The European Union aims to relaunch the high-speed railway line Iași–Chișinău–Odessa

The European Union is considering the relaunch of an ambitious railway project that was suspended due to the conflict in Ukraine

The initial project, which envisioned the construction of a railway line between Iași, Chișinău, and Odessa, could be extended and modernized under the new vision of the European Commission.

The European Commissioner for Transport, Adina Vălean, emphasized the importance of this project for regional connectivity.

“Iași is located on a corridor in Romania, so it must be connected to the national network. Iași will play a very important role in regional connectivity with the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, because we are working on a feasibility study for a European high-speed line with European gauge Lvov – Iași – Chișinău – Odessa. If we look only at the Iași – Chișinău connection, we already understand that it is about uniting the most important cities in that region, which will contribute to the connectivity with Moldova from the left of the Prut,” Vălean stated.

The project, which was abandoned at the beginning of the Russian conflict in Ukraine, is now based on a memorandum approved by the authorities in Iași, Chișinău, and Odessa. This memorandum outlines the necessary steps for implementing the investment, and after the conflict ends, it is expected that the document will also be signed by the authorities in Lvov, Poland.

The new railway line, which will be built on European gauge, will transform the route into a high-speed corridor, having the potential to significantly boost mobility and trade in the region.