Despite spending hundreds of millions of euros on modern signaling systems, Romania’s CFR railway company still directs train traffic on one of its main lines using an archaic method: phone calls and paper tickets delivered by bicycle.
On Magistrala 200, staff are seen pedaling between stations to hand-deliver handwritten notes that tell drivers when to proceed. The revelation was made public by a railway workers’ union, which described the situation as “humiliating” given the sums spent on supposed upgrades.
The contrast between modern infrastructure investment and outdated operational practices raises serious questions about the effectiveness of public funding. Passengers and safety experts have voiced concerns over the reliability of such a manual system, especially on high-traffic routes.
CFR has not yet commented on the specific claims, but the union is demanding an immediate investigation into how such a situation could persist after years of European Union-funded modernization projects.
Article source: cotidianul.ro | Image credit: RAILMARKET.com
