Will rail corridors in Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria be closed simultaneously? – UIRR expresses concern over possible overlapping of infrastructure works

The Industry Association for Road-Rail Combined Transport (UIRR) has expressed concern over the possible simultaneous closure of two main rail corridors between Turkey and Central and Western Europe due to major infrastructure works. These are the Dimitrovgrad-Nis corridor through Serbia, which is, as UIRR stated in the announcement, the main rail route, and the Ruse-Giurgiu corridor through Romania, which is the main alternative route.

– UIRR recognizes the importance of these infrastructure works as the maintenance and electrification of the rail network is crucial. However, we are concerned that the timing of these projects risks overlapping in a way that could simultaneously close both the main corridor and its most efficient alternative – UIRR warns.

Such a situation, they note, will have serious consequences for European freight transport, namely the disruption of established intermodal rail services between Turkey and the EU, the return of significant volumes to road transport, increased transport costs and transit times, reduced resilience of the European rail freight network, as well as the potential loss of commercially viable rail connectivity between Turkey and the EU.

With the support of its members, the UIRR called on the European Commission, the coordinators of the relevant affected European transport corridors and rail freight corridors to check the planned works and timelines with the relevant infrastructure managers and national authorities, but also to establish a better sequencing of works to ensure that at least one viable rail corridor remains open.

Industry Association for Road Rail Combined Transport

UIRR

rail corridors between Turkey and Central and Western Europe

Dimitrovgrad Nis corridor

Ruse Giurgiu corridor