📋 Tender Overview
ARCADA
Around 4 million passengers expected to use the upgraded railway each year
Passenger and freight capacity to increase, with up to 29 passenger and 22 freight trains per day
The project removes a key bottleneck on the Rhine-Danube and Baltic Sea-Black Sea-Agean Sea corridors, supporting the shift from road to rail
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed a €630 million financing agreement with Romania for the upgrade of the Bra?ov–Sighi?oara railway, alongside EU funds and State contribution. The total project cost is estimated €2.25 billion.
The project consists of upgrading 113 kilometres of double-track and electrified railway between Bra?ov and Sighi?oara, located in central Romania. When the works are competed, the railway capacity will increase for both passenger and freight traffic, while improving travel times, reliability and safety.
The railway is part of the Rhine-Danube and Baltic Sea–Black Sea–Aegean Sea TEN-T (Trans-European Network-Transport) corridors. The improvements will remove a bottleneck on these strategic routes and strengthen rail connections between Romania and the wider European railway network.
“This is an investment in people, connectivity and Romania’s future,” said EIB Vice-President Ioannis Tsakiris. “By upgrading this strategic railway, we are helping millions of passengers travel more efficiently while creating the capacity needed for freight to move more effectively by rail. At the same time, we are strengthening Romania’s connections with European markets and supporting more sustainable transport. This is exactly what European investment should deliver: better infrastructure that creates opportunities for people, businesses and regions.”
The upgraded railway will enable passenger trains to travel at speeds of up to 160 km/h and freight trains at up to 120 km/h. Around four million passengers and six million tonnes of freight are expected to use the line. Longer and heavier freight trains will also be able to use the upgraded route.
The line will be equipped with the European Rail Traffic Management System, supporting safer and interoperable rail operations. Improved stations and stops will also make rail travel more accessible, including for people with disabilities and with reduced mobility.
Investments of this scale are essential to strengthening Romania’s long-term economic potential. High-quality infrastructure creates the conditions for businesses to invest, for regions to develop and for people to benefit from greater economic opportunities, said Minister of Finance of Romania Alexandru Nazare. The Bra?ov–Sighi?oara project is an important example of how Romania can combine national priorities with European cooperation to deliver infrastructure that will support the country’s growth and competitiveness for years to come.”
The project will also help shift transport from road to rail, helping reduce congestion, road accidents, noise, pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. It will improve accessibility and mobility in central Romania, supporting economic, social and territorial cohesion and strengthening the role of rail in the country’s transport network. In addition to financing, the project has benefited from EIB Advisory support, helping the Romanian authorities prepare and implement this major investment and ensuring that the project is well positioned to deliver its long-term benefits for passengers, freight and the wider economy.
