Starting on October 15, train services will resume on 39 kilometers of the 109-kilometer Galați-Bârlad line, which was severely damaged by floods over a distance of 6. 5 kilometers.The Transferoviari company has carried out repairs on the affected sections, and starting Tuesday, nine trains will run in each direction between Galați and the Chiraftei stop..
The TFC company has submitted the necessary documents to place replacement buses on the route, so that future travel from Galați to Bârlad can be made possible.
The distance from Galați to Chiraftei is 39 kilometers, and the journey takes approximately one hour, with five stops along the way.The train schedule can be consulted here.
In order to restore train services on the Galați-Chiraftei segment, the railway infrastructure manager, Transferoviar Infrastructură Neinteroperabilă (TFIN), has conducted rehabilitation works (including the strengthening of the embankments and restoration of the damaged sections of the railway).
The Galați-Târgu Bujor-Bârlad line measures 109 kilometers.On weekdays, this route is utilized by many commuters, with a travel time of 2 hours and 40 minutes.The trains stop at 20 stations along this route.
It is worth noting that the severe floods in mid-September in the Galați area also affected the Galați-Bârlad railway.The railway line suffered damage over a cumulative distance of 6. 5 kilometers, where the embankment was washed away, the rail-tie assembly, and communication installations were completely destroyed, while all railway operating buildings sustained major damages.
For the trains to return to the remaining 70 kilometers, substantial repair works are required, which will cost several tens of millions of lei and are expected to take several months.
To ensure the continuity of transport along the entire Galați-Bârlad route, the railway operator Transferoviar Călători (TFC) has taken additional measures.Based on the provisions of the Public Services Contract, TFC has requested the Railway Reform Authority (ARF) to approve an Additional Act that would allow the use of buses to replace rail transport on the non-functional segment between Chiraftei and Bârlad.
According to this plan, buses will pick up passengers at the Chiraftei station and transport them along the rail route to Bârlad.This temporary solution will ensure the continuity of travel between Galați and Bârlad until the rehabilitation works on the entire railway route are completed.
The implementation of this replacement bus transportation plan will be possible following the approval of the Additional Act by the Railway Reform Authority (ARF), as indicated by TFC representatives.
