Romania: The three-car 655-5 Series Regio160 train has made its maiden commercial run of 166 km from Bucharest to Brașov. According to the Romanian railway reform authority ARF, another four such EMUs are to be launched on the routes Bucharest—Constanța and Constanța—Fetești in the coming days.
The rolling stock is able to operate at a speed of 160 km/h on 25 kV AC lines. The train can accommodate 465 passengers, providing 224 seats and 14 folding seats. Its IGBT-based inverter motor and optimised weight are reported to ensure low energy consumption.
In early 2024, the manufacturer and ARF signed a contract for 62 commuter trains, including their 15-year maintenance. The deal is valued at €561 mln, of which €470.2 mln is allocated from Romania’s Modernisation Fund. Meanwhile, Pesa has one more order for ARF. The manufacturer is building 29 regional trains, and the national operator CFR Călători expects to receive the first unit next week.
The contract with ARF is Pesa’s major export order. Meanwhile, in late 2025, the Polish company attracted €1.6 bln financing from lending institutions to expand its presence on the international markets, among other objectives. Previously, Pesa produced only trams for Romania, with 37 LRVs delivered to three cities from 2012 to 2023.
