Passenger numbers on Moldova Railways drop by 8 times in 20 years
The railway station in Moldova is facing a severe decline in passenger numbers, according to data presented by the National Bureau of Statistics.
In 2000, around 4.8 million passengers travelled by train, but this number has dropped by 8 times to just 600,000 in 2022.
The state-owned railway company Moldova Railways has generated losses approaching one billion lei over the last 8 years. These losses have increased due to the decrease in passenger numbers, especially for international transport, but also for freight.
Revenues are also constantly falling.
The reasons for the decline in passenger numbers are complex and include factors such as the rise of private car ownership, the lack of investment in the railway infrastructure, and the competition from buses and aeroplanes.
The railway company has said that it is working to address the decline in passenger numbers, but it is a difficult challenge.
