Alstom’s €450M Bucharest-Giurgiu Railway Modernization Project

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Introduction

Alstom, in collaboration with Arcada, has been awarded a contract to modernize the Bucharest–Giurgiu railway section in Romania, covering 93.45 kilometers of track. The project, valued at approximately €450 million, will implement ERTMS Level 2 signaling and electrification and is scheduled for completion within 36 months.

Modernization Scope and Objectives

The Asocierea RailWorks consortium, comprising Alstom and Arcada, secured the contract with CFR SA, the state-owned rail infrastructure operator. The modernization project aims to enhance the Bucharest North–Giurgiu railway line, Romania’s first railway line which opened in 1869. The upgrades will encompass electrification, infrastructure and track improvements, and signaling and telecommunications systems, with civil works, enabling maximum speeds of 160 km/h.

Contract Details and Execution

The total project value is approximately €450 million, with Alstom’s share representing around 25 percent. The project timeline spans 36 months, including both design and execution phases. The project is to modernize a single railway line that links Bucharest North, Jilava, Giurgiu North, and the Giurgiu border. The line is a critical link within the Rhine-Danube pan-European Corridor, connecting to Southeast Europe, including Bulgaria, Greece, and Türkiye. The project covers the section up to the Friendship Bridge entry into Bulgaria.

Alstom’s Role and Technical Specifications

Alstom will oversee the deployment of ERTMS Level 2, a digital train control system, and manage electrification works, including power supply and the overhead contact line. The modernization will affect 93.45 kilometers of railway. Alstom’s project involvement is supported by a team of over 230 engineers.

Strategic Significance and Market Position

The Bucharest North–Giurgiu North Border line is an important link between Romania and the Rhine-Danube pan-European Corridor, formerly Corridor IV. This corridor connects to Southeast Europe, including Bulgaria, Greece, and Türkiye. Alstom’s Managing Director for Romania, Bulgaria, and the Republic of Moldova, Gabriel Stanciu, stated that the contract reinforces Alstom’s market position in Romania. Alstom is a leader in ERTMS deployment, with over 30 percent of operational ERTMS Level 2 lines in Europe.

Conclusion

Alstom, in partnership with Arcada, will modernize 93.45 kilometers of the Bucharest–Giurgiu railway, enhancing speed, efficiency, and cross-border connectivity. The €450 million project, with an approximate 25 percent share for Alstom, includes ERTMS Level 2 signaling and electrification and is scheduled for completion in 36 months.

Alstom

Alstom is a global leader in smart and sustainable mobility.

Arcada

Arcada is a Romanian company.

CFR SA

CFR SA is the state-owned rail infrastructure operator.

ERTMS Level 2

ERTMS Level 2 is a digital train control system.

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