News 20111122 rail

1. News November 22nd, 2011
When will Romania have a high-speed rail
Let us imagine that we could reach the city
center of Cluj, Timisoara or Iasi in 3 hours
from the Capital center, without disruption
of traffic, in any weather conditions. Isn’t it
a utopia? This would be possible if we have
a high-speed line. How far are we?
In 2007, Ludovic Orban, Minister of Transport at that time,
said high-speed line, for which it wasn’t even drafted a project,
could be built by 2015. In fact, in recent years nothing
happened from this point of view, and performance would be if
construction begins in 2015. Or even in 2016, as now promised the Ministry. Recently, Anca Boagiu,
the actual Minister of Transport said that the project that everyone "is treated with skepticism", the
high-speed line linking Hungary to Romania, is already developing the feasibility study, which will
be followed by a second phase: funding. "Even if those in the ministry say that they are interested
especially in this project, currently there is no working group under the aegis of any institution to
work on it", says Ştefan Roşeanu, Senior Partner Railway Club.
In short, such a project involves a series of problems of railway infrastructure, reorganization of the
stations, and railway operator's problems. "A very important thing is how it will interconnect with
the classical transport system", explains Roşeanu. Basically, it supports the idea of a line (Constanţa-
Bucureşti-Braşov-Sibiu-Deva-Arad) to double Corridor IV, in which currently make investments for
rehabilitation.
But, say market analysts, the costs in this case could be much higher – "are tunnels that would be
built from Comarnic to Braşov", also explains Roşeanu. Another "cheaper" option could be designed
on the southern side, where "geography" allows lower costs.
French circulated with the first TGV 30 years ago
For either choice would choose, it is clear that this would be a fantastic leap for Romania. Especially
since, unlike the West, where the transition to high-speed line was gradually (French have
circulated with the first TGV 30 years ago, after for many years studied foreign technologies), to us
will be a jump from 160 km/h to 300 km/h in a much shorter time.
When will it happen? Gabriel Stanciu, General manager of a Romanian Transportation company, try
to give as possible term: "In the early 2020s", he points out, – an estimated period by Roşeanu too –,
only if there is continued political and investment support. In other words, says also Mircea Marian,
country manager of other Romanian Transportation company "if we compare the market in
Romania to that of France, speaking in terms of development of high-speed rail systems, once the
investment will begin, another 10-15 years will pass".
Eng. Paul Keisch Page 1

2. News November 22nd, 2011
Transportation company ideas
From a technical standpoint, the company official believes that this line should not compete with
existing lines, which now lies in a comprehensive rehabilitation process on Corridors IV and IX. He
proposes routes to serve other areas, lines such as Bucureşti-Piteşti-Râmnicu Vâlcea-Sibiu-Cluj-
Oradea and from there to Budapest; then, from Piteşti to Craiova and Timişoara and finally, from
Bucureşti to Brăila, Galaţi and later, to and from Iaşi. He also said the next phase would lead to a link
through Bulgaria to Greece and Turkey, to connect west cities of the country between them and
finally, to link Belgrade with Timişoara. From this point, depending on our neighbors’ schedules,
high-speed line could be linked to former Yugoslavia countries and northern Italy.
Once the project started, costs will be quite large. "Approximately, 850 km high speed line costs
exceed €10 billion", makes a simple calculation Roşeanu. Of course, when talk of a larger project, so
as Gabriel Stanciu drew, costs will be much higher. One thing is certain: if there’s money, ideas also
come. Remains a problem: how quickly will turn theory into practice?
For several years, Romania has taken into account the possibility of building
high-speed lines. This will require money, time and professionals.
Some figures from market:
250 km/h is the minimum speed that goes a TGV and characteristics old generation models;
currently taking projects in question are for 300 and 350 km/h.
1936 was the year when the steam locomotive reached, in UK, 200 km/h; French have circulated
the first time with a high-speed train 30 years ago.
€10 billion is the minimum amount necessary to build high-speed lines in Romania; currently,
Ministry of Transport is focused on this project.
Earlier the year 2020 we cannot think that we circulate with a TGV; market analysts say that this is
possible over 10-15 years.
Eng. Paul Keisch Page 2