Some 40% of the national rail network is in a critical condition, said the director of Moldova’s Railways (CFM) Oleg Tofilat. According to him, the war in Ukraine makes the authorities take urgent measures to rehabilitate and modernize rail infrastructure. An important part of the railroads started to be repaired and new wagons and locomotives will be purchased thanks to the support of foreign partners, IPN reports.
According to the CFM head, the rehabilitation of the national rail network is a priority as the war in Ukraine and the blocking of the Black Sea ports showed that the rail transport needs to be developed.
“Investments in rail infrastructure have been reduced after Moldova obtained independence. 40% of the rail network is in a critical condition, while 60% are in a bad state. We do not waste time. We managed to start works to rehabilitate 25% of the network, on the Tighina – Basarabeasca – Giurgiulești section. We now work intensely with the European Commission and financing banks and promote an ambitious project to rehabilitate the corridor in Căinari towards northern Moldova and we will this way have a whole transit corridor in an appropriate state,“ Oleg Tofilat stated in the program “Common Objective” on TVR Moldova channel.
The CFM chief said the state-run enterprise aims to produce its own renewable energy and has plans to buy 1,000 new grain wagons by 2025.
“It goes to photovoltaic parks in a number of national localities where there are our consumption points and battery energy storage systems. This will enable us to reduce our electricity dependence. We made progress in the discussions with Polish partners on the purchase of 1,000 grain wagons made in Poland, which will be financed under the sovereign lending agreement between Poland and the Republic of Moldova. We are yet to find solutions to renew the fleet of shunting locomotives. We need 25-30 such locomotives as the engines we have are of my age and will not live long,” said the director of Moldova’s Railways.
Recently, the Basarabeasca-Berezino railway section was put into operation and now Moldova can export and import goods by rail through the Ismail Port in Ukraine, bypassing the Transnistrian region.
