Moldova, Romania to implement a joint railway electrification project across Prut river

Moldova and Romania will implement a joint electrification project for the railway line connecting the cities of Iasi (Romania) and Ungheni (Moldova). The implementation of this initiative, which will take 36 months, might be a first step towards extending the electrified railway to Chisinau.

The project involves the electrification of the already existing railway line: Romania, commune Ungheni - municipality Ungheni (including crossing the Prut River and the border between Moldova and Romania), Moldova.

Contacted by MOLDPRES, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development Vladimir Bolea said that this project was of major importance for Moldova, serving as the first step in the national strategy to electrify the Iasi - Ungheni – Chisinau route, part of the railway corridor included in the TEN-T network, Baltic Sea – Black Sea – Aegean Sea corridor.

Maintenance and rehabilitation works on the Eiffel Bridge across the Prut river will be carried out as part of the project, including the replacement of worn out  elements, setting of fastenings and insulators and mounting of brackets to ensure the clearance of the catenary.

The works also include digging foundations, installing pillars and endowing them with the necessary devices for the operation of the electrification system, all activities being carried out within the perimeter of the already existing railway infrastructure.

To get resources for the project's implementation, the Moldovan Railway Company, with the support of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development, applied, along with the Romanian National Railway Company, to the European Commission's Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).

The planned activities have duration of 36 months. The start of construction depends on the date of contract signing, which for its part, is influenced by the duration of the procurement process, Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development said.