Romanian Rail Operator CFR Călători Faces Budget Delay as New Trains Meet Platform Gaps

Romania has recently purchased over eight billion lei worth of new rolling stock, including 12 Alstom Coradia Stream units and six PESA trains that now run on the Bucharest‑Constanța and Bucharest‑Brașov lines. However, the state railway company CFR Călători still lacks an approved 2026 revenue and expenditure budget, a situation criticised by railway workers’ union president Rodrigo Gabriel Maxim, who warned that without funding the operator cannot maintain or acquire spare parts for the modern fleet.

At the same time, the introduction of the new trains has exposed a mismatch between the modern carriages and the existing station infrastructure. Photographs from Constanța station show a large height difference between platforms and train doors, forcing passengers—especially the elderly, people with disabilities, parents with strollers, and those with heavy luggage—to climb one or two high steps. This accessibility problem is widespread across Romanian stations, limiting the benefits of the upgraded rolling stock despite their advanced features such as air‑conditioning, power outlets, and wheelchair‑friendly toilets.