RAIL TRANSPORT - Higher Costs for Rail Access

The Ministry of Transport, Constructions and Toursim announced a regulation project destined to change the calculation method for the rail Infrastructure Acces Tax (TUI in Romanian). The tax is payed by all rail operators - CFR Calatori, CFR Marfa and private owned operators - to the CFR SA, the infrastructure administrator.

MTCT’s project mentions an increase of TUI up to 4 Euro/train-km in 2007 from 3,4 Euro/train-km last year. In 2008, the tax will not have a fixed value, due to a new calculation method. The tax will vary next year according to train’s tonnage and infrastructure quality.

According to representatives from private operators, TUI is already higher than the European average. ”There are lower taxes in countries like Germany, Hungary or Austira,“ says Mr. George Buruiana, manager of Servtrans Invest.