Moldova Reviews Railway Reform and Access for Private Operators

The authorities and the business community discussed the progress of the rail transport reform

Rail sector reform, access to infrastructure for private operators and the prospects for railway modernisation were the main topics of discussion between business representatives and the authorities.

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During the event, organised by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and attended by around 60 participants, Mircea Păscălucă, State Secretary at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development, outlined the current status of the rail transport reform, the stages leading to its completion, and the expected changes for companies using rail transport services.

The discussions took place against the backdrop of the adoption on 8 October 2026 of the Law on the reorganisation of the state-owned enterprise ‘Calea Ferată din Moldova’. The reform provides for the separation of railway infrastructure management from transport operations through the creation of two separate joint-stock companies: JSC ‘CFM-Infra’, responsible for infrastructure management, and JSC ‘Calea Ferată din Moldova – Pasageri şi Marfă’, which will provide transport services. The reorganisation process is due to be completed by the end of 2026.

Particular attention was paid to the modernisation of railway infrastructure and the development of new business models in this sector, including through state budget funding mechanisms in the form of infrastructure subsidies. Discussions centred on the prospects for the development of rail transport and the creation of more favourable conditions for companies using rail transport.

Currently, rail transport accounts for around 12.4 per cent of the volume of goods transported in the Republic of Moldova, whilst road transport accounts for around 87 per cent. However, in the first half of 2026, the volume of goods transported by rail increased by 23 per cent, which demonstrates the sector’s potential for growth.

The dialogue provided the business community with an opportunity to present directly to the authorities the difficulties encountered when using rail transport, as well as their expectations regarding reform, including in relation to the predictability of tariffs, the quality of service and the integration of the national rail network into the European network.

This story was translated with the assistance of artificial intelligence.The translation was also reviewed by the Logos Press editorial team.

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