A Railway Agency will be created in the Republic of Moldova. The entity will have inspection duties and will issue railway transport permits, safety certificates and engine driver permits, as a draft decision approved by the executive provides, IPN reports.

The Railway Agency will put into operation the structural subsystems that form the railway system, will establish if these are used and maintained in accordance with essential requirements, will register and put trains on routes.

The new entity will also design and approve manuals, guidebooks and technical instructions concerning the safety, use and signaling systems of railway transport and the elements of railway infrastructure. Given that there is no body empowered to control passenger railway transport, the Railway Agency will also ensure the protection of consumers in this field.

The creation of the Railway Agency is a commitment undertaken by the Association Agreement with the EU, alongside the adoption of a new Railway Transport Code and the action plan for restructuring the railway section and the state-run enterprise “Moldova’s Railways”.