Moldova and Romania restore strategic Cantemir-Fălciu railway link after 30-year hiatus
A high-level diplomatic delegation will inaugurate the restored Cantemir–Fălciu railway segment on April 22. The round-trip journey from Prut-2 (Moldova) to Fălciu (Romania) marks the official resumption of traffic on a strategic line that has remained inactive for over three decades.
Strategic integration with the European Union
The four-kilometer segment serves as a critical logistics node on the European Union’s eastern border. While freight transport on this route ceased in 1989 and passenger services ended in 2009, its restoration establishes Moldova’s third operational rail gateway to Romania and the broader EU market.
Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Bolea emphasized that the move unlocks vital corridors for national exporters. The project was financed by the Moldovan government, which allocated approximately €510,000 (10 million MDL) last year to ensure the swift rehabilitation of the cross-border infrastructure.
Technical milestones and bilateral cooperation
The project reached a turning point in October 2025, when Calea Ferată din Moldova (CFM) completed the installation of 3,000 sleepers to connect the broad-gauge track to the Fălciu bridge. Technical testing by railway specialists has been ongoing since mid-December to ensure maximum safety standards.
The revitalization was governed by a 2025 Memorandum of Understanding between CFM and Romania’s National Railway Company. The official ceremony will include Vice Prime Minister Vladimir Bolea, Romanian State Secretary Irinel Ionel Scrioșteanu, and Ambassador Cristian-Leon Țurcanu, underscoring the political weight of the reconnection.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
