CFR Călători has received a new locomotive
CFR Călători has received a new locomotive. Further formalities are needed before it can be used on passenger trains.
What remains before passenger operation
The locomotive is Traxx Passenger LE 014. On 30 October 2026, representatives of ARF and Alstom carried out acceptance at the Alstom depot within the CFR Grivița workshops. ARF handed the locomotive over to CFR Călători to manage.
Actual operation requires registration in the European Vehicle Register and inclusion in CFR Călători’s Safety Certificate to be completed. The operator will use it under public service contracts approved by HG 1453/2022.
The routes planned for the locomotives
Locomotives purchased through the Modernisation Fund are intended for a 3,978 km network. Five routes are announced: Dej–Brașov–București–Constanța; Timișoara–Arad–Brașov–București–Constanța; Timișoara–Cluj-Napoca–Iași; Iași–București–Constanța; and Suceava–București–Constanța.
The routes describe the intended use of the purchased locomotives. The announcement does not assign LE 014 individually to one of the five connections.
A contract for 16 locomotives
ARF’s purchase covers 16 multisystem electric locomotives, including one spare. The contract is with Asocierea Alstom Transport SA – Alstom Transportation Germany GmbH, with Alstom as manufacturer and supplier.
The new locomotives are intended to replace 16 older electric locomotives. Since 2026, the project has been fully financed by the Modernisation Fund, after initially being included in the PNRR.