--- title: "Over half of Moldova's railways need repairs, with the government allocating 300 million lei" url: https://radiomoldova.md/p/85595/over-half-of-moldova-s-railways-need-repairs-with-the-government-allocating-300-million-lei published: 2026-09-22T07:52:00Z language: en author: "Ana Cebotari" section: "Economic" source: radiomoldova.md --- # Over half of Moldova's railways need repairs, with the government allocating 300 million lei > Over 54% of the Republic of Moldova's railway lines require repairs, and speed restrictions are currently in place on a significant portion of them. To address this, the Government approved the National Railway Infrastructure Program 2026–2030 on September 22 and will allocate 300 million lei for the maintenance, repair, and development of railway infrastructure, as well as public passenger rail transport services. ![](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/931f0ff5-2266-4703-a15d-b8ce8aec5a6d.jpg) Over 54% of the Republic of Moldova's railway lines require repairs, and speed restrictions are currently in place on a significant portion of them. To address this, the Government approved the National Railway Infrastructure Program 2026–2030 on September 22 and will allocate 300 million lei for the maintenance, repair, and development of railway infrastructure, as well as public passenger rail transport services. According to the Government-approved document, 288.3 million lei of the 300 million lei will be allocated to the maintenance, repair, and development of railway infrastructure, while 11.7 million lei will go toward commissioning passenger rail transport services. This state budget funding is part of a broader investment program for the railway sector, Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Bolea—Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development—stated during the Government meeting on September 22. *"We are talking about unprecedented investments in the Republic of Moldova's railways: for the southern section, there are investments totaling approximately 113 million euros—a contract currently under implementation that will result in the major overhaul of over 100 kilometers of railway track. We are also discussing another loan—for the northern section, totaling over 115 million euros—funds that will begin to be utilized in the autumn of 2026,"* the Deputy Prime Minister said. **Works to be funded in 2026** Most of the funds allocated for infrastructure this year—229.8 million lei—will be used for priority projects. These include developing the Revaca station to facilitate passenger transfers to and from the "Eugen Doga" Chișinău International Airport. The plan also provides for the continued rehabilitation of six critical sections along the Cahul-Giurgiulești line, where landslides and rail traffic disruptions pose a risk. These works are also crucial for ensuring a rail connection to the Giurgiulești port complex. Repair work is also planned for the Iargara-Cahul section, where the railway infrastructure is heavily worn, as well as the completion and commissioning of work on the Prut 2 – Fălciu section, connecting Moldova and Romania. Another component of the program aims to facilitate rail access to the Nord Bus Station in Chișinău. Authorities also plan to launch a passenger train service connecting the airport and the bus station, and to upgrade waiting platforms at the Sângera and Nord Bus Station stops. **Over 600 kilometers of track require repairs** The network's technical condition drives the need for investment. According to a project drafted by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development, the country's railway infrastructure spans 1,127 kilometres, comprising 1,053.1 kilometres of single-track lines and 74 kilometres of double-track lines. The document indicates that this year, 359.9 kilometres of track require major repairs, while another 256.1 kilometres require intermediate repairs. Together, this accounts for about 54% of the operational track length. Infrastructure issues also impact train speeds. Although the network is designed for speeds of 60–80 km/h, 216 speed restrictions are currently in place, lowering the limit to as little as 25 km/h across sections totalling 584.48 kilometres. Authorities attribute these restrictions to poor condition of sleepers, rails, and fastening systems, as well as insufficient crushed stone ballast along the trackbed. The proportion of defective sleepers reaches 90%. Certain engineering structures are also in an unsatisfactory state: 246 require major overhauls, while 274 need routine repairs. A particular issue concerns the Republic of Moldova's only railway tunnel—located on the Șoldănești-Mateuți section and built in the late 19th century—which suffers from masonry deterioration and groundwater damage. Meanwhile, a large portion of the signaling, interlocking, and block systems are obsolete. More than half have been in use for over 50 years, and in some stations, track switches are still operated manually. Planned investments are expected to transform the infrastructure and allow the network to return to normal operating conditions, Deputy Prime Minister Bolea said. *"These financial resources—regarding the completion of projects currently underway or yet to be implemented—will ensure that the entire 1,150-kilometer railway network in the Republic of Moldova becomes fully functional and fit for proper operation,"* Vladimir Bolea said. The minister also linked these investments to the financial recovery of the State Enterprise "Calea Ferată din Moldova" (Moldova Railways), noting that the state has stepped in to support the enterprise's development in recent years. "Thanks to the Government's efforts, we are transforming a business on the verge of bankruptcy into one that will generate profit and added value for the national economy," concluded Vladimir Bolea. *** By the end of this year, Moldova’s railway operator (CFM) will be split into two separate joint-stock companies: one responsible for managing railway infrastructure—"CFM Infra"—and another providing passenger and freight transport services—"CFM Pasageri și Marfă." The deadline is December 31, 2026, as established by the reform agenda associated with the Republic of Moldova’s Growth Plan for 2025–2027.