Moldova is preparing a public-private dialogue on railway reform, where key issues related to the modernization of the industry, business access to services, and further integration into the European network will be discussed. The focus will also be on changes in the operations of the relevant state-owned enterprise, tariff policy, and the challenges companies face in transportation.
The ports of Giurgiulești in southern Moldova have seen a significant increase in cargo volume over the past nine months, and authorities and European partners are discussing the further development of the transportation hub and its connections with neighboring countries. The focus is on modernizing access infrastructure, relieving congestion at the border crossing, and redistributing some of the traffic flows among road, rail, and sea transport.
The Moldovan Parliament approved, on its second reading, a bill on the reorganization of the state-owned railway enterprise, which is to be completed by the end of 2026. The reform calls for the separation of infrastructure and transportation operations and a change in the industry's organizational model; the full version of this article provides details on the stages of the transformation, the legal mechanisms involved, and the implications for the market.
84.5% of Moldova's exports to the European Union are transported by truck; in the first half of 2026, goods worth 895 million euros were delivered to the EU by this means
Train service has resumed in Moldova on the Cahul–Prut-2 section, where five open-top cars had previously derailed
The European Union has awarded Moldova a grant of 20 million euros for the reconstruction of sections of the "North-South" railway corridor along the route Vălcineț – Ocnița – Bălți – Ungheni – Chișinău – Căinari
Moldova's railway sector is introducing uniform rules for risk assessment and management in connection with major technical, operational, and organizational changes. The new methodology will affect both existing operators and future market participants; the full version of this article provides details on which inspections will become mandatory and how this will impact investment projects.
Moldova will tighten and, at the same time, make more transparent the rules governing the authorization of rail transport for operation in accordance with European standards. The new procedures will involve inspections of rolling stock at various stages and will change the way applicants interact with regulators, which could have a significant impact on the rail freight market and the supply of railway equipment.
Moldova is preparing to update the rules for investigating accidents and incidents involving various modes of transportation: Parliament has already approved the relevant bill on its first reading. The bill is intended to strengthen the independence of the relevant agency, more clearly separate technical investigations from legal proceedings, and introduce new approaches to the publication of safety findings and recommendations.
In August, "Moldova Railways" facilitated the export of approximately 28,530 metric tons of agricultural products and transported 18,020 metric tons of cargo in transit.
The EBRD will provide a tranche of 11 million euros for the rehabilitation of the Chisinau-Cainari railway section
Japan and Moldova are discussing a new phase of cooperation that could broaden support for key sectors, with rail infrastructure and agriculture among the areas under consideration. The talks also covered trade expansion, fresh investment, and efforts to strengthen Moldova's presence on the Japanese market.
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