CFR Infrastructure, through the Timisoara Regional Railways, has launched the tender for the design and construction of the train line between East Railway Station and Timisoara Airport. The new line is a branch of the M 100 Bucharest-Timisoara main line, is 5 kilometres long and will be electrified. The contract worth more than 300 million lei also includes the modernisation of the existing 5.2 km Timișoara Est - Radna line. The government approved the investment earlier this year, as Economedia wrote here. Coincidentally or not, the tender was launched on Friday 27 October, the day of Transport Minister Sorin Grindeanu's visit to Timisoara Airport where modernisation works are underway. The tender should have been launched as early as July. Currently, only Bucharest has a direct rail link to the airport via the line from Gara de Nord, and in 2027, as promised, also with the M6 Metro.

The duration of the contract is 30 months of which 8 months for the technical design and 22 months for the execution.

"The National Railway Company "CFR" SA informs you that SRCF Timisoara has launched the public procurement procedure for the design and execution of the works for the construction of a railway line that will provide a direct connection to the International Airport Traian Vuia Timisoara and the modernization of the railway line Timisoara East - Radna, from where the railway connection to the Airport will be built. The total estimated value of the contract is 323,297,762.98 lei excluding VAT and the source of financing will be provided by non-reimbursable funds. The scope of the contract includes the modernisation of the existing Timișoara East - Radna line, over its entire length of 5.2 km, the construction of a double electrified railway line (from the connection point) to the Airport, with a total length of 5 km, and the construction of the new railway station, with two station lines, in the immediate vicinity of the Airport. The design and execution period of the works will be 30 months, of which 8 months for the preparation of the technical design and 22 months for the execution of the works," says a CFR Infrastructure press release.

"The creation of a rail connection to Traian Vuia International Airport in Timișoara contributes to:

- The development and expansion of air transport links with other modes of transport by interconnecting the airport with Romania's entire rail network and the European TEN-T transport network, as well as the connection with urban transport modes.

- attracting as many passengers as possible from neighbouring localities to rail transport, etc.", the Explanatory Memorandum states.