Prime Highlights :
- Mayor Ciprian Ciucu stated that Bucharest’s light rail network is over 50 years old and no longer efficient, making the €266m EIB funding critical for the city.
- The modernisation programme, covering 50km of track upgrades, depot improvements, and 63 new LRVs, is set for completion by 2030, though no tender timetable has been announced yet.
Key Facts :
- The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the lending arm of the European Union, financing projects that support EU policy goals such as sustainable transport, climate action, and regional development.
- Bucharest’s light rail network serves around 500,000 passengers daily, and the city had already inducted 100 Imperio LRVs between 2022 and 2024 through a consortium of Astra Vagoane Călători and CRRC Qingdao Sifang.
Background :
The European Investment Bank (EIB) and the city of Bucharest signed a €266 million financing agreement to upgrade the Romanian capital’s light rail network. Vice President of EIB, Mr. Ioannis Tsakiris, and the Mayor of Bucharest, Mr. Ciprian Ciucu, were present at the signing ceremony held in Bucharest.
The loan agreement will support the improvement of the existing rail system, which includes about 50km of rail lines, the upgrade of the existing depots, and the purchase of 63 LRVs. The funding will be used to make the existing rail system more efficient, reliable, accessible, and comfortable for its passengers, who number approximately half a million every day.
The modernisation programme is due for completion by 2030, including delivery of the new fleet. However, no tender timetable for the new LRVs has been announced yet. Bucharest had earlier put 100 Imperio LRVs into service between 2022 and 2024, produced by a consortium of Romanian supplier Astra Vagoane Călători and Chinese manufacturer CRRC Qingdao Sifang.
Mayor Ciucu stated that Bucharest’s light rail network is over 50 years old and no longer efficient, making this funding extremely important for the city’s public transport future.
The upgrade combines both infrastructure and fleet renewal, addressing the long-standing need to modernise one of Europe’s older urban tram systems. With half a million daily users depending on the network, the investment carries significant public impact and positions Bucharest’s light rail system for more reliable and comfortable urban transit in the years ahead.