MID-JULY saw the start of open-access freight services on Romania’s national rail network. Rail engineering and rolling stock maintenance company Sefer SA has started hauling petroleum products from Brazi, southeast of Ploiesti, to Chitila, northeast of Bucuresti. The 30-wagon train carries 2500 tonnes, but capacity will be increased to 3200 tonnes next year.
Since acquiring a licence to operate on the CFR network in January, Sefer has won a contract to handle inter-plant transfer movements for Petrobrazi from Ploiesti to Bucuresti, Calan and Timisoara. Sefer President Stefan Movila hopes to start hauling public freight on the Pitesti - Bucuresti - Constanta and Ploiesti - Buzau - Suceava routes shortly.
Sefer has a fleet of 60 locomotives and leases wagons for the operation. The company has already invested 20m lei this year, and plans to spend 150m lei next year to acquire 25 electric locos and expand its wagon fleet.
Unifer Trans SA has also been granted an open access freight licence and is currently negotiating for paths. n
