Alstom completes electric train depot in Bucharest

The new testing, validation and maintenance centre, located in the Grivita area of the capital Bucharest, will employ about 50 staff, Alstom said in a press release on Tuesday.

The first Coradia Stream electrical multiple unit train (EMU) delivered by Alstom to Romania, from an order of 37 units, is currently stationed at the Grivita Depot. The six-car EMU is undergoing mandatory static and dynamic testing in accordance to European and national regulations before being able to carry passengers.

The EMU, manufactured by Alstom at its factory in Poland, was delivered to Romania in December 2023, local media outlet Economica.net reported at the time.

In March 2022, the Romanian Railway Reform Authority, ARF, signed a contract with Alstom for the delivery of 20 Coradia Stream EMUs. The deal was extended for an additional 17 units in September 2022. The value of the contract for the delivery of total of 37 inter-regional trains and associated 15-year maintenance services was 2.42 billion lei ($519.7 million/486.3 million euro), ARF said back then.

ARF was established in 2016 as an investment agency under Romania's transport ministry.

Alstom has been active in Romania for 30 years and is responsible for implementing signaling or electrification solutions on more than 75% of the northern branch of the Rhine-Danube railway corridor in the country.

(1 euro=4.9761 lei)