International relations of CFR

Romania, with its geographical situation, represents a crossing point for the international lines of railway transport, which links both north and south and west and east of Europe.
At Pan- European Conference of Transport in Crete in 1994, the paneuropean corridors of transport were established and in 1998, at the Conference in Helsinki these were reconfirmed. Romanian territory is crossed by three of them: IV, VII and IX.

• IV - Berlin/Nurnberg-Prague-Budapest-Constanta/Thessalonik/Instanbul (there is a ferry boat link over Danube; the bridge will be in discussion if the traffic requires this)

• VII - Danube (without any railway components)

• IX - Helsinki -St. Petersburg - Moskova / Pskov - Kiev - Liubashevska - Chisinau - Bucuresti - Dimitrovgrad - Alexandropolis.

At the conference in Helsinki, the set of the 10 corridors were also completed by 4 important pan European areas of transport, which are situated around the sea basins of the following: Mediterranean Sea; Black Sea, Adriatic Sea and area Barents Euro-Arctic, areas that are considered as origins and destination for important traffic circulation. In the new geopolitical conditions, Central Caucaz-Asia area got international relevance being appreciated as a future most active in the world. There is a decision of European Union that provides the opening of the corridor for railway and automotive transport Central Europe-Caucaz-Asia (TRACECA), with the crossing of west-east direction of Black and Caspian Seas. It also provide its connection with the big pan European corridors of transport, including corridors IV and IX through Constanta harbor, the biggest harbor of Black Sea.

Thus, there is a project for the rehabilitation of the corridor IV with priority for the track: Curtici - Arad - Alba Iulia - Brasov - Bucuresti - Constanta.

For the transom Bucuresti-Brasov, with a length of 170 km, there was achieved a financial assistance from the European Bank of Investments. For the rehabilitation of the transom Bucuresti- Constanta , with a length of 225 km there are some negotiations for getting some funds from OECF (Japonese Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund). The project was evaluated in a positive manner by the firm JTCA (Japan Transport Cooperation Association). The Consultancy Company ITALFERR also expects financial assistance for the transom Brasov-Alba Iulia and Alba-Iulia Curtici for which there some studies achieved.
The south part of the corridor IV Arad -Craiova-turnu Magurele and/ or Calafat will be consider when the traffic requires this.
In the future transom Ploiesti-Bacau-Iasi-Ungheni on corridor IX will be rehabilitated and Bucuresti Nord Station will be systematized. The station is the biggest passengers' station in Romania and it is situated at the crossing of two corridors. This project will be followed by the rehabilitation of corridor IX with tracks: Bucuresti- Giurgiu and Videle -Giurgiu and then of extensions of corridors Cluj-Oradea, Buzau-Galati and Pascani- Suceava.

Even it is not included in the route of corridors the transom Bucuresti - Craiova - Turnu Severin, between AGTC, AGC, TER and high-speed networks, will be rehabilitated, due to the important traffic that exists and make the investment profitable.
All these will be achieved through both the financial efforts of our company and state's.

PANEUROPEAN CORRIDORS OF TRANSPORT

The importance of corridors IV and IX in the structure of traffic on CFR network and the necessity of their rehabilitation result from the fact that, on about 1/5 from the total length of network (1891 km from 11 187 km) operates about half of the total traffic.
The policy of Government is that of an equal treatment for the railroad and automotive means of transport. Taking into account the social and environment impact of transport, the special funds of investments for the roads created by the passengers and CFR, from dues and tax on fuel and so on, will be distributed in equal parts, too. The railway transport implies three times less both fuel and pollution.
A serious transport network is interested in development in the first place of the railroad transport in entire European Union.

In this context it must be mentioned the aggressiveness of promoting works of rehabilitation for competitive railway routes that leaves from Varna, Burgas and Odessa. In 1999-2000, it is necessary to accomplish at least all the studies for the efficiency for corridors IV and IX in order to realize a portfolio of mature studies that can be offered for evaluation to European Union.
In this way we shall manage to achieve financial assistance for the countries that intent to adhere to EU, assistance like as the fund of 1.5 milliard ECU, in 2000. In competition with the other countries, we could get 50-100 million ECU, for the projects of the infrastructure in all the country and at least 50% for the railway infrastructure.

CFR S.A represents Romanian railway system in the connections with the international railway administrations and together with the Ministry of Transport with the bodies of European Community. Romanian railroad network is deeply connected with the other European railways.
From the point of view of European cooperation, Romania is a member in the working body regarding the pan European transport network, where the railroad represents a principal part. CFR is a founding member of UIC (International Union of Railways) and has a representing in the directive council of this Union.
UIC has as main object of activity the maintenance and development of the general coherence of railway system, improving the interoperability and increasing the railway competitiveness, especially in the international traffic. These objectives are pursued also by the company.

Taking into account the company's concerns for integration in the European railway system at the required levels of quality, its own programs of modernization are correlated with the strategically objectives of UIC and with the terms proposed for their achievement.
CFR has always had the right to sign the international conventions regarding railroad transport. It must be emphasized that these conventions are dated since the period between the wars, the European railway system being the first international system integrated which had and still has official rules.

CFR has never interrupted these excellent relations.

Today there is a tendency for a deeply integration of railway system that determines a complete interoperability and a competitive participation of the international railway operators. Romania cannot stay apart so the maintenance of the actual relation is essential.

In the Directive 440/1991 of European Union it is stated that the railway transport represents " an indispensable element of the transport sector in Community". Therefore European Union and each State Member sustain especially the development of this mean of transport, aspect reflected in the political statements, laws, strategies and definite programs.
For Romania as a country associated to European Union, the alignment to these tendencies in development of railway transport is essential.
Until the present the achieved evaluations, integrated in a framework document of International Union of Railways, show that the transport on the railway network is not only one of the most secure but also with the least negative influences on the environment. So, it will become the most performing and one of the cheapest means of transport. It will become absolute necessary for the European integration.

For the modernization of its networks, in conformity with European requirements, Romania signed more international agreements regarding railway transports. It is also involved in international projects in this field, having as the main objective the integration of European transport in the future European Union.
European agreement regarding the important tracks of combined international transport and connective installations (A.G.T.C.) was concluded in Geneva on February 1st, 1991. Romania adhered to this agreement through the adoption by the Parliament of the Law no.8 on March 8th, 1993.
European agreement regarding the important railway international tracks (A.G.C.) was concluded on May 31st 1985. Romania adhered to AGC through adoption by the Parliament of the Law no. 100 on September 23rd 1996 and it stresses the accord with four big main tracks and five secondary connective tracks.

T.E.R Project. As the standards of infrastructure, imposed by the agreements above mentioned are too high for the most central and east-European countries, the governments of these countries decided implementation in the agreements AGC and AGTC of a Trans-European railway project TER. The participation of the Romanian Government to TER project (agreement between CEE/ONU and participating governments) was decided through the Laws no. 124/1994 and 10/1998.
TER network implies a part of railway network of participating countries, the main corridors being oriented on the axis north south and east west.

European high speed railway transport of the year 2015 is anticipated as operating on distinct advanced networks, as part of corridors that allow high density of traffic. On these corridors will operate, on long distances, high speed passenger and freight trains, managed and controlled by central systems of exploitation. To increase the quality of passenger transport on the railway, CFR has as main objective to achieve the high speed operation, which extends from west of Europe to east and south east of the continent.

The legal framework in our country for railway field takes into account the tendencies of development and modernization at European level. It recognizes the principles specified in European Union documents and constitutes the support of development and improvement of company's activities. It is stipulated the alignment of Romanian railways to the technical standards and operational parameters of European agreements and projects regarding development of an European integrated railway network for passenger and freight transport.

The specialists of CFR SA have participated to the activities accomplished in the Group of Railways in South-East Europe (SERG), special group of UIC that bound together the railway from Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Turcia, Yugoslavia, Albania, and ex Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia, in order to identify the measures of promoting international railway transports in this region. They also participated to the activities accomplished in the Project SECI (Initiative of SouthEastern European Cooperation) and CEMT (European Conference of Ministers of Transport). CFR SA is member of Discussion of Transport Ministers, as a result of transmission to the company, as a member of OCCF (Organization of Railways' Collaboration) of the obligations and rights of Ministry of Transport in Romania. Between 1998-2000, CFR SA has the position of president of Conference of General Directors (CDG), control body of OCCF. Specialists of CFR SA has also participated to the discussions of the temporary working groups on the problems of operation of trains, tariffs and exploitation.
In the perspective of integration of Romania to European Union, a special interest is represented by the preparation and support of projects for modernization of railway infrastructure through evaluation process TINA (Transport Infrastructure Needs Assessment).

We know we cannot make miracles. We have programs that could be achieved.

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