The contract, the tender for which will be published in SICAP – Romania’s Collaborative Information System for Public Procurement – will be financed by the country’s recovery and resilience plan, PNRR. It is estimated to be worth approximately €180m, with a further €270m for a 30-year maintenance and repair contract.
The 20 trains will be used on these routes, according to an announcement by Romania’s Minister of Transport, Sorin Grindeanu, on his Facebook page:
1. Oradea – Cluj Napoca – Sighisoara – Brasov
2. Cluj Napoca – Alba Iulia – Simeria (Deva) – Târgu Jiu – Craiova - Calafat
3. Brașov – Sfântu Gheorghe – Miercurea Ciuc – Bacău – Iasi
4. Brașov – Sfântu Gheorghe – Miercurea Ciuc – Bacău – Suceava
5. Galati – Mărășești (Focșani) – Bacău – Iași
6. Galati – Mărășești (Focșani) – Bacău – Suceava
7. Galati – Brăila – Constanța – Mangalia
8. Iași – Bacău - Mărășești (Focșani) – Barboși (Galați) – Brăila – Constanța – Mangalia
9. Suceava – Bacău - Mărășești (Focșani) – Barboși (Galați) – Brăila – Constanța – Mangalia
10. Giurgiu – Bucharest – Ciulnița (Slobozia) – Călărași
The services will initially be offered on lines that are already electrified when the trains are put into circulation, but will expand as other routes are also electrified, including the Cluj Napoca – Oradea, Bucharest – Giurgiu, and Constanța – Mangalia routes.
The trains will be able to travel at a maximum speed of 200 km/h and will offer a transport capacity of at least 160 fixed seats (first and second class) and at least 160 standing seats, Grindeanu noted.