Like no other rail operators, Romanian companies are obliged to pay fuel rates destined to investments in road transport infrastructure. „We estimate that 25% of the Diesel-fuel price we pay is found in road rehabilitation funds. We subsidize the road freighters, which are our competitors. Since ship transport operators don't pay Diesel-fuel rates, it would be normal that we don't pay it too, but that's not yet the case“, said Mr. George Buruiana, general manager of Servtrans Invest, a rail operator.
This is not the only abnormality affecting rail business - there's also the problem of generalised stealing. „Police comes and asks about our security systems, but I don't think we should organise guard departments in stations and depots not belonging to us. We pay infrastrucutre fees and expect some services in return. These services should include at least some security features“, said Mr. Ciprian Dediu, president of Transcombi.
Some operators tried even to hire armed guards to protect their trains, as seen only in the Wild West more than a century ago. There were no positive results, because the security agents got scared of the thief gangs.
