Romania accepts first InterRegional EMU under EU-funded order
Romania's rail reform authority has carried out preliminary acceptance of its first InterRegional electric multiple unit (EMU) at Pesa's Polish plant, under an EU-financed modernization programme. The three-car unit will be delivered to Romania in late September for testing and certification.
The inspection, conducted during the first week of September, marks a significant milestone in Romania's largest rolling stock modernization program in over 20 years. The authority verified the production process and validated key specifications at the Polish manufacturer's facility.
The InterRegional EMUs are part of a EUR 650 million fleet renewal, part-financed through EU Recovery and Resilience Plan and national co-funding. The programme covers 29 InterRegional EMUs from Pesa, alongside 62 regional EMUs funded via the EU Modernisation Fund.
Strategic deployment
The 160 km/h EMUs will operate on nine strategic routes linking Romania's main cities, including Cluj-Napoca–Brașov. Each unit is equipped with ETCS Level 2 signaling for European interoperability standards.
"The first EMU will undergo NoBo and DeBo certification trials required by European and national regulations before entering commercial service," the authority confirmed. Complete delivery of all 29 InterRegional units is scheduled by the end of 2027.
The investment supports Romania's contribution to EU sustainable transport targets and TEN-T corridor development, with the fleet to be deployed as electrification projects progress on key routes including Cluj-Napoca–Oradea and Craiova–Calafat.