Moldova and Romania strengthen transport connectivity: implications for the Danube region

Moldova and Romania are moving toward the practical implementation of deeper bilateral transport integration, a process of strategic importance for their border regions and, in particular, for the Danube area. In the near future, the two countries plan to reopen rail traffic on the Cantemir–Falciu section, resume transport services on the Cahul–Galați route across the Prut River, and launch a passenger train connection between Cahul and Galați.

These initiatives were discussed during a meeting between Moldova’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development, Vladimir Bolea, and the State Secretary of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure of Romania, Irinel Ionel Scrioșteanu. The talks focused on priority areas of cooperation in rail, road, river, and border infrastructure, with an emphasis on joint projects aimed at facilitating the movement of goods and passengers and reducing logistical bottlenecks between Moldova and Romania.

Special attention was given to several strategic projects, including the launch of works on the first electrified railway section between Iași and Ungheni, Romania’s support for preparing a feasibility study for the construction of a European-gauge railway from Ungheni to Chișinău, and the commissioning of a new bridge over the Prut River, scheduled for autumn 2026. The parties also discussed the need for coordinated dredging of the Prut River to restore inland waterway freight transport and unlock the logistical potential of riverside regions, particularly along the Cahul–Galați axis.

IDR commentary 
For the Danube region, these developments have a broader macro-regional relevance. The revival of rail and river links between Cahul and Galați contributes to the consolidation of the Lower Danube as a coherent logistical space capable of serving transit flows between the Black Sea, the Balkans, and Central Europe. In the medium term, this creates conditions for closer alignment between Moldovan and Romanian infrastructure projects and Ukraine’s Danube ports, enhancing supply-chain resilience and reinforcing the Danube region’s role within European transport corridors.