Having secured a contract to modernise the Craiova–Filiași section of the Craiova–Caransebeș railway in Romania, mobility solutions provider Alstom notes that the project will deploy European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) Level 2 signalling and electrification, enhancing overall capacity, energy efficiency and service reliability, thereby transforming rail travel for the region.

The agreement was signed by the Asocierea TrackWorks consortium – which comprises Alstom and civil works company Terna Tourist Technical and Maritime Societe Anonyme – with the Romanian State rail infrastructure operator CFR SA.

Alstom will deliver signalling, traffic management and electrification systems, while Terna will be responsible for civil works. The contract covers a 117-month implementation period, including both the design and execution phases.

The contract covers the modernisation of 38 km of the railway line between Craiova and Filiași. The project involves electrification installation, infrastructure and superstructure modernisation, new signalling and telecommunication systems, and civil works such as station modernisation, the replacement of bridges and footbridges and the repair of the drainage system.

Additionally, Alstom will directly oversee the deployment of the ERTMS Level 2 and Global System for Mobile Communications–Railway infrastructure, the implementation of the digital interlocking and passenger information systems, and the electrification works including the modernisation of power supply and overhead contact lines.

These comprehensive upgrades will enable passenger trains to reach speeds of up to 160 km/h, with freight trains reaching up to 120 km/h, increasing the network’s capacity to meet the region’s growing transport demands. The introduction of new electrification and power systems will significantly boost energy efficiency and reduce the railway’s environmental footprint, supporting Romania’s transition to greener, more sustainable transport solutions.

“By aligning with EU corridor standards and advancing sustainable mobility, this project demonstrates Romania’s commitment to modern, environmentally responsible rail infrastructure. This contract consolidates Alstom’s leading position on the Romanian railway market, for both signalling and electrification, built over our 30-year history on the market,” says Alstom Romania, Bulgaria and Moldova MD Serban Iorga.

The Craiova – Drobeta Turnu Severin – Caransebeș section, spanning 225 km, forms part of the “Orient/East-Med Corridor”, a major European rail artery crossing eight countries and extending over 6 500 km.

Alstom is the world leader in ERTMS deployment and is recognised as a pioneer in the development of new functions and standards, with its digital solutions providing optimal efficiency and high levels of safety and security.

In Europe, Alstom supplies over 30% of the operational ERTMS Level 2 lines, showcasing its significant presence and contribution to this technology across the continent.

The company is also responsible for implementing signalling or electrification solutions on the Northern branch of the Rhine-Danube railway corridor in Romania, on two lots of the Cluj-Oradea railway line as well as on Lot 1 of the Lugoj-Caransebes section.

Alstom is also modernising the oldest railway line in Romania, Bucharest–Giurgiu, inaugurated in 1869.

Further, the first communications-based train control urban signalling solution in the country is being implemented by Alstom on Bucharest’s Metro Line 5. The company has also been a long-term provider of maintenance services for the Bucharest metro fleet, and the current contract is valid until 2036.