Alstom, a global leader in smart and sustainable mobility, has signed the contract to modernize the Craiova–Filiași section of the Craiova–Caransebeș railway line in Romania. The project will include the implementation of the ERTMS Level 2 signaling system and the modernization of electrification, ensuring greater capacity, improved energy efficiency, and increased service reliability, transforming rail transport in the region.
The contract was signed by the TrackWorks Association, formed by Alstom and the civil works company Terna Tourist Technical and Maritime Société Anonyme, with CFR SA, the company that manages Romania's railway infrastructure. Alstom will supply the signaling, traffic management, and electrification systems, while Terna will be responsible for civil works. The contract has an implementation period of 117 months and includes both the design and execution phases.
The contract aims to modernize 38 kilometers of railway line between Craiova and Filiași. The project will enable the improvement of electrification facilities, modernization of the infrastructure and superstructure, signaling and telecommunication systems, as well as civil works such as station modernization, bridge and walkway replacement, drainage system repair, and embankment consolidation. Alstom will directly coordinate the implementation of ERTMS Level 2 and GSM-R systems, the introduction of electronic interlocking and passenger information systems, as well as electrification works, including the modernization of power supply sources and contact lines.
These extensive modernizations will allow passenger trains to operate at speeds of up to 160 km/h, and freight trains at up to 120 km/h, reducing travel times and increasing network capacity to meet the growing transport demand in the region. The introduction of new electrification and power supply systems will significantly improve energy efficiency and reduce the railway's environmental footprint, supporting Romania's transition towards greener and more sustainable transport solutions.
„By aligning with European corridor standards and promoting sustainable mobility, this project demonstrates Romania's commitment to modern and environmentally responsible rail infrastructure. This contract strengthens Alstom's leading position in the Romanian railway market, both in signaling and electrification, a position built over 30 years of market presence. Bucharest has become a strategic hub for Alstom's signaling competencies, hosting a team of over 400 highly qualified engineers whose expertise supports both local and international projects,” said Șerban Iorga, Alstom General Manager for Romania, Bulgaria, and the Republic of Moldova.
The Craiova – Drobeta Turnu Severin – Caransebeș section, with a length of 225 km, is part of the important Orient/East Med corridor, a major European railway artery that crosses eight countries and stretches for 6,500 km.
Alstom is a global leader in ERTMS implementation and is recognized as a pioneer in the development of new features and standards. Alstom's digital solutions offer optimal efficiency and high levels of safety and security. In Europe, Alstom supplies over 30% of operational ERTMS Level 2 lines, demonstrating a significant presence and a major contribution to the development of this technology on the continent.
Alstom has been active in Romania for more than 30 years and is a market leader in rail electrification and signaling solutions, as well as a supplier of rolling stock for metro and mainline railways. The company is responsible for the implementation of signaling or electrification solutions on the northern branch of the Rhine-Danube railway corridor in Romania, on two lots of the Cluj-Oradea line, as well as on Lot 1 of the Lugoj-Caransebeș section. Alstom is also modernizing Romania's oldest railway line, Bucharest-Giurgiu, inaugurated in 1869. The company is part of the consortium building Romania's second metro system in Cluj Napoca, the country's first fully automated metro line. The first CBTC solution for urban signaling in Romania is being implemented by Alstom on Line 5 of the Bucharest metro. At the same time, the company is a long-term supplier of maintenance services for the Bucharest metro fleet, with the current contract valid until 2036.