Romania’s Railway Reform Authority (RRA) and Siemens Mobility signed a EUR 229.3 million hydrogen train contract including the delivery of full maintenance and repair services for an initial term of 15 years.
The contract has been signed on April 28, by the President of RRA, Claudiu-Marinel Mureşan, and the General Manager of Siemens Mobility Romania, Emil Gabriel Voinea.
Siemens Mobility will deliver 12 Mireo Plus H trainsets with the first unit to be delivered in 24 months. Consequently, the first units will arrive in Romania for testing and certification in the second half of 2028, and Romanian passengers will be able to use them starting in spring 2029.
The project will be financed through the Transport Programme 2021–2027, with co-financing provided from the state budget.
The trains for Romania are based on the Siemens Mireo platform and configured as articulated two-unit trainsets with a maximum operating speed of 120 km/h. Each trainset offers 131 fixed seats plus 5 folding seats, providing a high level of passenger comfort while ensuring operational efficiency. The trains can be operated in multiple traction of up to two coupled units, offering flexibility for both current and future operational requirements.
The vehicles will be equipped with PZB (intermittent train control) train protection systems and ETCS L2, ensuring compliance with European safety and interoperability standards. A modern Passenger Information System will provide continuous travel information through interior and exterior displays as well as automated announcements, enhancing the travel experience for passengers and supporting operational staff.
Maintenance activities will be carried out locally in Romania, including at a dedicated depot in Bucharest, by Siemens Mobility personnel, supported by Railigent X digital maintenance and fleet management systems designed to optimize availability and extend component and battery lifetimes.
In accordance with the provisions of the methodology for the allocation of newly acquired rolling stock, the 12 Mireo Plus H trainsets will be distributed to two rail operators:
CFR Călători will receive 10 units, allocated for the following routes:
- Bucharest North – Târgoviște (two trainsets);
- Pitești – Curtea de Argeș (one train);
- Bucharest North – Pitești – Craiova (three vehicles);
- Bucharest North – Henri Coandă Airport route (one Mireo Plus H train);
- Bucharest North – Pitești (three units);
Transferoviar will have two trains that will be operated on the Bucharest North – Târgoviște and Bucharest North – Henri Coandă Airport routes.
The hydrogen train contract marks the first one in Romania and one of the first hydrogen projects in Eastern Europe and represents a significant step towards the decarbonization of regional rail transport and the modernisation of passenger services across the country.
By replacing diesel-powered rolling stock, the new hydrogen trains will contribute to a significant reduction of emissions and noise in regional rail transport, supporting Romania’s long-term sustainability and climate objectives.
“Through this contract, we are not just purchasing trains – we are changing the direction of Romania’s railway transport. Hydrogen trains mean clean technology, efficiency, and a concrete solution for non-electrified routes, where options have so far been limited. And there are plenty of such routes. Romania is no longer standing on the sidelines but is joining the ranks of countries building the future of mobility,” said the President of RRA.
Share on: 
