Electrification of Constanta - Mangalia section

Constanta -Mangalia section, measuring 43 Km per total, represents an extension of Bucuresti - Constanta main line, and also an extension of Helsinki Corridor IV on Romanian territory, providing transportation services to the southern tourist’s zone of the Seaside. It also provides the link for the railway freight transport to Constanta Sud, Agigea and Mangalia ports.
Constanta -Mangalia section represents a part of 800 Main Line, being built and put in operation as a simple line, in two stages:
Constanta- Eforie Sud section, inaugurated on 5 June, 1927 for passengers and freight traffic;
Eforie Sud - Mangalia section , put in operation on 17 June 1938.
On Constanta -Agigea Harbor lock section (9 Km) the track is double and
supplied with power, the remaining section to Mangalia being simple and having no power supply. Hauling process on the Constanta -Mangalia section implies the change of the traction device (DEL locomotives instead of EL) in Constanta railway station, also extends the travel duration, supplementary shunting, stressing the line devices and line switchers, and also implies supplementary exploitation costs. We must also mention that lack of circulation capacity and sanity conditions of the passenger trains in Mangalia station imposes a limitation of their number to the Seaside. In Constanta station, the tourists have to change their travel means with buses, or to wait for other trains that circulate to Mangalia. And this is due to the fact that the tracks repair deadline expired, last repair works on Constanta -Mangalia section were performed in 1985-1986.
Railway Study and Design Institute (ISPCF - SA), the main designer of CFR -SA, analyzed two versions of extension of Constanta -Mangalia railway section: electrification of the current section and supplying automatic block track equipment (BLA). This also means aligning it to the designed parameters. The second version implies works performed to double the tracks, to supply power and automatic block track equipment, aligning the track to the designed parameters on its entire length.
From the Economical analysis, and mostly from the constraint of investments values, there have been issued advantages for each of the two versions. Electrification version in the current state has as main advantage a smaller investment, consequently implying its faster recovery. In point of doubling the tracks and supplying power in the same time, the investment is bigger, but it allows obtaining an outstanding increase of circulation capacity and it creates conditions for an efficient and attractive suburban type of transport by tilting train sets.
Constanta -Mangalia section electrification represents a large project in point
of amount of works that have to be performed:
Railway stations will be systematize in order to double the tracks and to supply power and there will provide an extension of 750 m for the current line, as a deviation for each way;
according to the existing possibilities in every station is going to placed a covered passenger platform in front of the building, for 150 m.;
all the stations will be systematize by creating a direct line and the first deviation of normal platforms (6 m interax) measuring 250 m in length and reaching the first stair of the classic passenger wagon in height; in the stations where the fast and express trains stop (in Eforie Nord, Eforie Sud, Costinesti, Neptun and Mangalia) there will be built wide platforms (9 m interax), having the length of 400 m and reaching the first stair of the classic passenger wagon in height, all length covered and equipped with uneven pedestrian passing ( pedestrian tunnels);
Eforie Nord, Eforie Sud, Costinesti railway stations will be equipped with electro-dynamic centralization installations, and Constanta railway station will be modernize in order to be brought to the European standards;
There will be executed rehabilitation works on the railway sections, consolidation works, works of art, where necessary strengthening the sea boards, because the rehabilitation of the entire network will be executed in other execution and financing condition.
Once finalized, this important project will enhance:
Replacing Diesel traction, that represents a great consumer of the imported hydrocarbons, requiring currency availability, with the electric traction, consuming power produced in our country, surplus and that can not be deposited, resulting a direct reduction of the power costs with 50% in comparison to a Diesel traction.
Increasing the speed of circulation to 70 Km/h all distance long;
Increasing the technical speed and technical capacity;
Reducing travel time, maintenance and exploitation costs, environment pollution degree and the personnel in charge with the operation process by using it in other circulation sectors;
Improving service quality for passenger and freight transport, but also suburban type train - tilting train sets;
Providing jobs during the works;
Traction system standardization of the section with the one of the main lines that reach Constanta railway station and technical equipment compared with the European railway network..
As a result of the general modernization of the Romanian Seaside which aims increasing its activity, it is also necessary to have an adequate rail section, by the modernization process, namely, creating a new superior standard for Constanta railway station that will also cope with the environment protection.

Ivana Cezar