CFR train contract with PESA partially unblocked, but maintenance issues remain, says minister

The procurement of new trains from Polish manufacturer PESA for Romania's national railway company, CFR, remains partially unblocked, according to interim Transport Minister Radu Miruță. While progress has been made in recent weeks, significant issues concerning maintenance and the reception of already delivered trainsets need to be resolved before they can be fully integrated into service.

Miruță estimates that about 80% of the contract is now moving forward, but essential conditions, particularly those related to maintenance obligations and the necessary infrastructure, require further clarification. CFR Călători must formally confirm the acceptance of the trainsets, while the Railway Reform Authority (ARF) and PESA are engaged in technical and legal discussions.

Seven or eight trainsets have reportedly been received, but the process is contractually incomplete due to lingering uncertainties about PESA's maintenance commitments. "The maintenance obligation was not demonstrated," Miruță stated, adding that the state is in a difficult position because reception occurred without full clarity on these crucial aspects.

To address the situation, the ministry has temporarily stopped payments associated with maintenance centers. Miruță explained that PESA had requested approximately 35 million euros for each of the four planned maintenance centers, despite these facilities not being finalized. This action serves as a measure to pressure the manufacturer to fulfill its obligations.

Central to the ongoing negotiations is how maintenance will be organized post-delivery. Discussions are underway involving CFR Călători, ARF, and PESA regarding the potential cession of these responsibilities. The minister also mentioned a temporary solution to get 21 new trains currently idle in Bucharest's Obor station into circulation within days.

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