Sorin Grindeanu, Minister of Transport, announced the adoption of an important amendment to Government Emergency Ordinance No. 12/1998, which regulates transport on Romanian railways and the reorganization of the National Romanian Railways Company (CFR).
Sorin to Grindean conveys that the amendment, which particularly concerns article 46 of the said ordinance, aims to ensure the legal basis necessary for the elaboration of norms by government decision for the verification, detection and sanctioning of the consumption of alcohol or psychoactive substances by personnel with responsibilities for railway traffic safety.
Until now, the only regulation in the railway sector that applied to the findings and sanctions regarding personal misconduct under the influence of alcohol was the Order of the Minister of Transport and Telecommunications No. 855/1986. This order, intended to improve discipline in the units of the Ministry of Transport and Telecommunications, was applicable exclusively to the working personnel of all the units of the ministry.
Starting with 1998, following the reorganization of the National Company of Romanian Railways in accordance with Government Emergency Ordinance no. 12/1998, the provisions of Order no. 855/1986 became inapplicable to railway transport operators with private capital, as well as to other economic operators with a railway specific nature, which are not directly subordinated to the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure.
In addition, the order refers to outdated regulations, such as Order of the Minister of Health No. 47 of 30.03.1963, which required the collection of blood samples at the request of the CFR bodies by the health units in the Ministry of Health network.
Sorin Grindeanu also states that data collected between January 2023 and December 2024 revealed 68 cases in which personnel with responsibilities for railway traffic safety performed their duties under the influence of alcohol. Of these, three cases resulted in railway accidents, one in 2023 and two in 2024.
One of the most serious incidents took place on 17.05.2023, at 02:57, within the scope of activity of the Bucharest Regional Railway Branch, in the Videle – Giurgiu Nord traffic section. On the simple and non-electrified line, in the Toporu railway station, at km. 31+100, train no. 79562, consisting of isolated locomotive DA 1692 and belonging to the railway transport operator United Railways SRL, did not stop and passed the exit signal XI located in the stop position.
Sorin Grindeanu explains very clearly that, in this situation, the train overshot switch no. 2 in Toporu station, engaging in the current line and frontally bumping train no. 88342, composed of isolated locomotive DA 1566 and belonging to the operator Rail Cargo Carrier Romania SRL. Following the collision, two mechanics were transported to the hospital by the SMURD crew.
The proposed amendment to Government Emergency Ordinance no. 12/1998 comes in the context of a pressing need to update the legal framework in the railway sector. Through these changes, the authorities aim to eliminate the existing gaps in the regulation of the verification and sanctioning activities of personnel under the influence of alcohol or psychoactive substances, thus contributing to improving the safety of railway traffic.
Sorin Grindeanu stressed the importance of this initiative, warning that the current regulations no longer correspond to the reality of modern railway transport operators, especially those with private capital. The minister added that the implementation of these measures will provide a clear and efficient legal framework, which will help prevent incidents and increase safety standards in Romanian railway transport.
The authorities intend to present the details of the new government decision in the coming period, and the legislative amendment is expected to be adopted as soon as possible, with the aim of protecting both the personnel involved, as well as passengers and goods transported by rail.
