The interim Minister of Transport, Radu Miruță, has raised alarm over significant bureaucratic obstacles at CFR, after uncovering a situation where dozens of new trains are unused while passengers continue to travel under inadequate conditions.
On Friday, Miruță highlighted the „absurdity” of the situation at CFR, stating that he found 21 brand new, modern trains sitting idle in the courtyard of the Ministry of Transport, exposed to the elements for months. Meanwhile, passengers are forced to endure travelling in outdated trains that suffer from broken seats, damaged toilets, and lack of air conditioning.
To address this issue, Miruță took immediate action by calling together the supplier, the project manager, and the contract coordinator. He expressed frustration over what he described as a typical case of bureaucratic confusion. According to him, these individuals seem unable to navigate the bureaucracy they themselves agreed to nearly a year and a half ago. Unfortunately, during that period, the new trains have gone out of warranty without even being used for a single kilometer, leading to the emergence of new maintenance contracts.
Miruță emphasized the need for a solution, calling on all parties involved to come together and apply the law as it stands, rather than avoiding its implications due to fear of potential consequences. He has scheduled a meeting for next Wednesday at the Ministry of Transport, where representatives from the Polish manufacturer and responsible structures within the ministry will convene.
Curious about the details of the contracts related to the construction of the 98 trains, Miruță took the initiative to investigate how much local production was requested in these contracts as of January 2024, and how many Romanian companies were involved. To his dismay, he discovered that there was zero local production specified in the contract; no Romanian firms were included at all.
Miruță noted that some individuals recently claiming that 60% of the production would be handled by SAFE, with factories built in Romania, are the same people who signed contracts with no local involvement or engagement of Romanian companies. This contradiction highlights a broader issue of accountability and transparency in government contracts, particularly in the context of state investments.
The situation has raised serious concerns about how public resources are being managed and whether the best interests of Romanian travelers are being prioritized. By allowing such modern trains to remain unused while the public continues to suffer from inadequate transportation options, the government risks losing credibility with its citizens.
Miruță’s exposure of this issue reflects a growing frustration with bureaucratic inefficiencies that hinder progress in enhancing public transportation. As he continues to push for accountability and the application of the law, it remains to be seen how quickly changes will be implemented to address these pressing concerns in the country’s rail transport system. The upcoming meeting could potentially spark necessary reforms, ensuring that new trains serve their intended purpose of improving travel conditions for all Romanian passengers.
