On Thursday, the new electric train failed to leave the North Station for Brașov. This after, on Wednesday, its first road was announced with great fanfare. It appears that just 24 hours after it was put into service, the Alstom Coradia Stream train displayed errors on the on-board computer.
The new electric train could no longer leave the North Station on Thursday morning
UPDATE: Alstom’s reaction
After the publication of this article, Alstom clarified that the train is not defective, but decided to withdraw it for checks.
“After the successful completion of the maiden run, when the train was uncoupled from the shunting locomotive, error messages regarding some functions appeared on the on-board computer. The train is fully functional, but given Alstom’s priority of passenger safety above all else, we have decided to keep the train in the depot to carry out additional work to confirm functionality and safety.
Alstom teams are currently fully mobilized to assess the causes and define the appropriate measures.
The company’s objective is to return the train to commercial service as soon as possible and to meet commercial commitments”Alstom stated on Thursday.
Original news:
“The new train had to be canceled this morning following errors displayed by the on-board computer which did not reset in time after towing to the depot and disconnecting the shunting locomotive. Passengers were re-routed to the next scheduled train 30 minutes later“, announces ARF.
The first electric train made of new rolling stock, namely the RE-IR TS02 Alstom Coradia Stream electric frame, traveled for the first time in Romania on Wednesday, on the Bucharest – Brașov route.
The Coradia Stream model is the first train supplied by the manufacturing company Alstom Ferroviaria SpA for rail passenger transport in Romania, within the purchase contract signed and developed by ARF.
“CFR Călători will operate the Alstom electric frame on the route Bucharest North – Ploiești West – the resorts on Valea Prahovai – Brașov as an Interregio train and with a tariff related to this train class, according to the public services contract concluded by the company with ARF. Thus, a ticket for the distance Bucharest Nord – Brașov costs 63.00 lei for the second class and 91.00 lei for the first class, passengers having the opportunity to already buy tickets for this train“, the company informed on Wednesday.
On November 20, 2024, the train had the following timetable: IR 16005 Bucharest North departure 09:30 – Brașov arrival 12:00/ IR 16006 Brașov departure 15:20 – Bucharest North arrival 17:53, and during the period November 21 – 14 December 2024 will run according to the following schedule: IR 16001 Bucharest Nord departure 05:40 – Brașov arrival 08:08 / IR 16002 Brașov departure 08:43 – Bucharest Nord arrival 11:12.
The electric frame delivered by Alstom consists of 6 modules (wagons), offering a capacity of 351 seats. By construction, it has a low floor, which ensures easy access for people with reduced mobility, and is capable of traveling at a maximum speed of 160 km/h. And, very importantly, the maintenance of the electric frame is provided by the manufacturing company Alstom.
Alstom still has 37 trains to deliver
In the first part of 2025, as the remaining 11 trains will enter the ARF park and will be handed over to CFR Călători for operation, the RE-IR1 Alstom Coradia electric trains will run on all the routes under the contract: Bucharest – Constanţa; Bucharest – Craiova; Bucharest – Ploiesti – Brasov – Sighisoara – Alba Iulia – Deva – Arad – Timisoara; Bucharest – Craiova – Drobeta Turnu Severin – Timisoara – Arad; Bucharest – Craiova – Târgu Jiu – Deva.
According to ARF, the other 25 RE-IR1 Alstom Coradia electric trains will enter into circulation in 2025, within the public service contracts currently in the bidding process, serving the rest of the electrified railway mains: Bucharest – Ploiesti – Buzau – Focşani – Bacău – Iasi; Bucharest – Ploiesti – Buzău – Focșani – Bacău – Suceava; Bucharest – Ploiesti – Buzau – Brăila – Galaţi; Iasi – Suceava – Dej – Cluj Napoca; Bucharest – Ploiesti – Brasov – Sighisoara – Cluj Napoca; Brasov – Sfântu Gheorghe – Miercurea Ciuc – Bistriţa – Cluj Napoca; Bucharest – Ploiesti – Brasov; Cluj Napoca – Alba Iulia – Deva – Arad – Timisoara.
The Railway Reform Authority (ARF) contracted from the supplier Alstom Ferroviaria SpA 37 long-distance inter-regional electric frames through a purchase contract concluded in March 2022. The first Alstom Coradia Stream electric train from this batch arrived in Romania on December 4, 2023, since then undergoing testing, while the delivery schedule for the other 36 RE-IR electric frames has been pushed back. The total value of the contract for the purchase of the 37 multiple electrical units and their related maintenance services for a period of 15 years amounts to 2.42 billion lei, excluding VAT. The trains for the ARF were produced in Poland.
