PHOTO // Railway of Moldova enterprise restores direct connection to Giurgiulesti International Port

The railway infrastructure in south Moldova today reached an important milestone, with the successful testing of the strategic Cahul–Giurgiulesti segment. The Railway of Moldova state enterprise has checked the viability of the recently restored segment in the locality of Valeni, confirming that the line is ready for the resumption of railway traffic to the country’s only seaport.

The approximately 400-meter segment, part of the line built in 2007, was taken out of operation in August 2022, after natural disasters had caused massive land subsidence and severe erosion. To prevent a recurrence of these phenomena, the government-funded rehabilitation project involved large-scale engineering solutions.

The works included drilling 920 deep piles and pouring around 8,000 tons of concrete to stabilize the embankment. Modern drainage systems were also installed, and the entire superstructure of the railway line was rebuilt, from ballast and sleepers to rails, ensuring enhanced resilience to environmental challenges.

“The restoration of this section is an essential step for the national economy, once again providing direct railway access to the Giurgiulesti International Free Port. In the absence of this connection, the transport of strategic goods – such as grain, agricultural products and construction materials – was rerouted via roads or through neighboring states, generating additional costs and putting pressure on road infrastructure,” said Infrastructure and Regional Development Minister Vladimir Bolea.

According to the authorities, the resumption of traffic will bring immediate benefits, by reducing transport time and costs for exporters; strengthening logistical independence by avoiding external alternative routes and shifting bulk cargo flows from roads to rail.

By rehabilitating the Cahul–Giurgiulesti line, Moldova is strengthening its role as a regional transit corridor. Railway of Moldova experts emphasize that this technical achievement creates the necessary conditions for increasing transport volumes and diversifying logistics routes in the southern region, turning the Danube port into a far more accessible and competitive transport hub.