Moldova railway transit faces disruptions and underutilization

Rail freight transit through Moldova is facing significant disruptions and underutilization. On the Vălcineț–Bălți–Ungheni route, transit traffic dropped to zero between September 5 and 8, 2026, despite a previous average of 15–20 wagons per day. This stoppage highlights the discontinuous nature of the corridor and dependencies on rolling stock availability and coordination between railway administrations.

Similarly, the Cantemir–Fălciu railway crossing, a strategic connection between Moldova and Romania inaugurated in April, has seen no train traffic in over four months. Infrastructure Minister Vladimir Bolea stated that it is the responsibility of Calea Ferată din Moldova (CFM) to identify economic agents interested in using the route. While the ministry aims to make Moldova's 1,150 kilometers of track functional for businesses, no specific transport contracts or dates for the first train crossing the Fălciu bridge have been announced.