Alstom, as part of the Asocierea RailWorks consortium, has won a contract to provide digital train control, traffic management and electrification infrastructure on a section of the European Rhine-Danube rail corridor in Romania.
The section in question, Lot 2, runs from Apata to Cata between Sighisoara and Brasov. In March 2020 Asocierea RailWorks had been awarded Lots 1 and 3 on this section. This current contract completes the works.
Alstom’s share of the contract is worth roughly 70 million euros. It will provide signalling and electrification works on the double railway line. Together with Lots 1 and 3, Alstom will have modernised the railway infrastructure over a distance of 128km. The works for Lot 2 are expected to take four years.
“Alstom has now reinforced its leading position on the Romanian railway market, for both digital train control and electrification. Covering the entire subsection between Sighisoara and Brasov will provide a smooth and effective operation, ensuring a consistency in the quality of service and coordinated efforts to complete the entire subsection on time and budget.”
Lot 2 measures 28km of railway line. The route will be upgraded through the construction of tunnels to cut travel times. Most of the old line will also be modernised for passenger trains running at speeds of up to 160km/h. Alstom will install the traffic management system, digital interlocking and ERTMS Level 2 (ETCS Level 2 and GSM-R). Alstom will further be responsible for the passenger information systems, catenary upgrades and electric traction substations.
The most challenging aspect of the project is the construction of two double tunnels. Alstom will install an electro-ventilation system in them to address the lack of natural ventilation. Alstom will also fit a fire-proof system.
The upgrades mean that the fastest trains will complete the journey between Sighisoara and Brasov in under 60 minutes. To compare, the current travel time is between 160 and 250 minutes. Passenger trains will be able to travel at up to 160km/h, freight trains at 120km/h.
The Rhine-Danube corridor runs through eight countries, terminating at Constanta, Romania, on the Black Sea.
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