Cluj-Napoca in Romania unveils plan for metropolitan rail system
In the heart of Romania, Cluj-Napoca – a bustling IT hub – took a giant leap in transport as the local authorities sealed a partnership with the Romanian Railway Company, CFR. This alliance paves the way for the much-anticipated metropolitan train project.
Emil Boc, the city's long-standing mayor, in an exclusive chat with Actualdecluj.ro, revealed that this partnership is the final missing piece to secure EU funding for the project. The City Hall will release invitations to bid for the project by May-June.
According to Boc, the tenders for this project have already been submitted to the public acquisitions platform SEAP and will come with a suspensive clause. By mid-May, we might know whether there are any more requirements to meet before the ball rolls. Once the tenders are published, potential bidders will have a 60-day window to submit their proposals. The tender for procuring carriages is also on the agenda for June.
The agreement with the Railway Company, SA, specifies the roles and contributions of each party in the metropolitan train project. The total investment for this project amounts to EUR 250 million. Around EUR 22 million, including the city's share, will go towards the project. The remaining funds will come from the Cluj County Council. The city's contribution also includes RON 17 million for setting up parking areas in Cluj-Napoca where new stations will be located. CFR will contribute RON 285 million for modernizing existing railway tracks.
The Cluj metropolitan train will span 48.8 km, connecting Gilău, Cluj-Napoca, Apahida, Jucu, and Bonțida. The project consists of 23 stations, with 8 entirely new ones. It will also include 8 car parks, 5 overpasses, and the purchase of 7 modern electric trains with 420 seats each. The trains are expected to run every 30 minutes between 06:00 and 19:00, with the frequency dropping to one train per hour after 19:00.
The tenders for the project are expected to be organized and completed within the first year of implementation. The entire project is projected to be carried out over four years, with a multi-year budget. Local media reports suggest that the deadline for submitting national projects to the Ministry of Transport has been postponed until the end of this year. Aside from Cluj, Oradea is also working on a project to secure EU funding for a similar metropolitan train.
Despite the lack of extensive data, it's clear that Cluj-Napoca is steering its transport future with the metropolitan train project. Challenges such as securing adequate funding and ensuring transparency in procurement processes will undoubtedly come up along the way. Keep an eye on this space for more updates!
Stay tuned for more exciting updates from Cluj-Napoca, and don't forget to sign up at our website to read the full article!
(Photo source: Inquam Photos | Sabin Cirstoveanu)
The metropolitan train project in Cluj-Napoca, driven by partnerships with sectors like finance, public-transit, and transportation, aims to modernize the city's railway system with an investment of EUR 250 million. Emil Boc, the city's mayor, has announced that the tenders for this project will be published by May-June, with potential bidders having a 60-day window to submit their proposals.
