Moldova studies electric railbuses amid growing public‑transport ridership

The Moldovan Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development is evaluating the introduction of electric railbuses for short‑ and medium‑distance passenger service. The proposed vehicles would run on existing railway lines, emit no pollutants and operate silently. According to ministry data, a railbus can travel up to 400 km on a single charge, reach speeds of up to 75 km/h and carry roughly 100 passengers. Potential routes include Chișinău–Ungheni and a corridor through Strășeni, Chișinău, Revaca and Sîngera, with the aim of using existing tracks and renewable‑energy sources.

In 2025, Moldova's public‑transport system recorded a total of 356.8 million passenger trips, a 9.1 % rise over 2024. Trolleybuses remained the most used mode with 217 million trips, followed by buses with 113 million. Taxi journeys doubled to 24 million, while air travel grew sharply. By contrast, rail passenger numbers fell to about 300 000, continuing a downward trend. Officials cite these figures as part of a broader push to modernise and make transport more efficient and environmentally friendly.