MOLDPRES REPORT // Europe reaches Cantemir by rail: Railway of hope relaunched under banner of shared values on both banks of Prut

After years of silence and abandoned infrastructure, on Wednesday, 22 April 2026, the sound of train wheels once again echoed on the railway bridge over the Prut River. Cantemir (Republic of Moldova) – Fălciu (Romania) section was officially reopened in a moment loaded with symbolism, but also with economic pragmatism.

The resumption of traffic on this route – inactive for freight transport since 1989 and for passengers since 2009 – marks not only a physical reconnection, but also a concrete rapprochement between the two banks of the Prut, united by common interests, values, and European aspirations.

On Wednesday, a diesel-electric locomotive of the new state company Carpatica Feroviar symbolically ran on the rehabilitated European-gauge track, demonstrating that the distance between Chişinău and the European Union is now measured in kilometers of modern railway, not in years of waiting.

"A closed station means life on hold"

The event brought together officials, businesspeople, and experts from both countries, in an atmosphere where the key word was “partnership.”

“It's very beautiful. We are opening a customs crossing after the 1990s. We are increasing the number of crossings. This time, by rail, but it is extremely important for the social and economic activity of the localities on both banks,” Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development Vladimir Bolea told MOLDPRES.

The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized the visible transformation of the place: “A year ago there was only a ramp. Today we see a well-kept station, we see businesspeople from Romania and from the Republic of Moldova who look with optimism at the development prospects. This is a direct link with the European Union.”

His message was also a deeply personal one: “I come from Basarabeasca district, a railway town. I know what a closed station means. We have nothing else to do but reopen these stations and restart life in our towns. Big things are done through small but concrete steps, and today is one of those steps we are proud of.”

The minister also stressed that the success equally belongs to Moldovan road and railway workers, who rebuilt the connection segment from scratch with their own resources: “I am proud of these people who made it possible for us to have a locomotive in front of us today.”

European gauge: the fast track to profit for farmers

Beyond symbolism, the reopening of the section is a breath of fresh air for the regional economy. The 4-kilometer segment has been adapted for mixed gauge (broad – 1520 mm and European – 1435 mm). This technical innovation allows Romanian trains to enter directly into the Prut-2 station, eliminating costly procedures such as transshipment or bogie exchange.

For agricultural producers in the south of the Republic of Moldova, the news is “golden,” as a farmer from Cantemir put it. Rail transport on this route offers:

Reduced costs: containerized transport to Romanian ports or European markets becomes significantly cheaper than road transport.

Time saved: smoother exports of grain and processed products.

Direct access: an uninterrupted link with the European Union’s railway network.

Analyses presented by experts show that rail transport on this segment will significantly reduce logistics costs and transit time, providing a competitive alternative to already overburdened road or port transport.

For farmers in southern Moldova, this can mean the difference between loss and profit. Faster access to the European market opens real opportunities for export and development.

Coordinated control on Romanian territory

A completely new feature that will revolutionize rail traffic is the establishment of the first Border Crossing Point with bidirectional coordinated control. All customs formalities will be carried out in a single place, on Romanian territory (Fălciu), cutting border waiting times in half.

Romania’s Secretary of State in the Ministry of Transport Irinel Ionel Scrioșteanu, who was present for the crossing of the Prut by train, highlighted the historic dimension of the event.

“I had the honor of experiencing a historic moment – I crossed the Prut by train after more than 30 years. For too long, there was silence on this route. Today, however, Europe has reached Cantemir by crossing the Prut. This is yet more proof that European belonging is built through infrastructure and concrete projects. What we see now is a European train, and European integration is not just a political concept but a reality built through infrastructure. This line is proof that things are moving and that Moldova is truly connecting to the EU area,” the Bucharest official told MOLDPRES.

One nation, one shared future project

Present at the ceremony, Romania’s Ambassador to Chişinău Cristian-Leon Țurcanu reaffirmed that this project is only one piece of a much larger puzzle of unity.

Cristian-Leon Țurcanu emphasized the dimension of cooperation.

“We crossed the Prut by train today, on a link reopened after a long period. It is obvious that the authorities in Bucharest and Chişinău are building together, for the benefit of citizens on both banks,” Cristian-Leon Țurcanu said.

The diplomat also highlighted the continuity of this process:

“This is not a one-off event. It is part of a series of projects that extend infrastructure and bring the two banks closer. For the first time since 1989, a freight train is passing, and later passenger transport will also resume.”

“It is not a unique event but part of a sequence of actions meant to connect the infrastructure that binds us,” the Romanian diplomat told MOLDPRES.

What’s next for Cantemir and the region?

The plans do not stop here. The authorities have already announced their intention to extend the European-gauge railway segments in the south of the country and to eventually relaunch passenger services, which were suspended in 2009.

If until yesterday the station in Cantemir was just a monument to decay, today it is a modern logistics gateway. With over 3,000 new sleepers, a strengthened bridge, and an integrated security system presented by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Daniela Misail-Nichitin, the Cantemir–Fălciu section is officially becoming the new “artery of hope” for Moldovan exporters and an unshakable symbol of the strategic partnership between the two Romanian states.

Thus, the Cantemir–Fălciu railway line, with combined European and broad gauge, becomes a strategic link in connecting the Republic of Moldova to the European Union’s railway network. Beyond figures and kilometers, this project means more: it means mobility, opportunities, investment, and, above all, a real bridge between people. On the tracks that cross the Prut, not only trains are running. Hopes, partnerships, and a shared future, built together, are also travelling there.