Moldova’s Railways has presented two locomotives that had been renovated at the Basarabeasca depot for four years. The company’s director Iurie Topala said these locomotives could no longer be used, but now, after renovation, they will be exploited for five more years, IPN reports.

The two locomotives are about 50 years old. The renovation cost about 10 million lei. Iurie Topala said Moldova’s Railways does not have money to purchase new locomotives, which cost about €4 million. That’s why they had to renovate the old ones.

“Moldova’s Railways has hundreds of locomotives that are damaged and stay in depots. We now have no locomotive that would work at full capacity,” stated Iurie Topala.

According to acting Minister of Transport and Road Infrastructure Iurie Chirinciuc, Moldova is implementing a project in concert with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development within which ten new locomotives will be bought. “The locomotives will be modernized, of European type. The Government and Parliament approved the procedure and a tender contest to purchase them will be announced next year. A sum of €50 million was earmarked for the purpose,” he stated.

Moldova’s Railways needs 25 locomotives that would work at full capacity. It runs 37 locomotives now, but these do not work at full capacity.

The two renovated locomotives will be used to pull railcars that transport goods on Moldova’s territory.