Speaking at the Railway Days 2025 conference in Bucharest, Marian Mihail Călin, Technical Director of Astra Vagoane Călători S.A., announced a landmark achievement for Romania’s rolling-stock industry — the country’s first passenger railcar designed and built entirely to meet the European Union’s Technical Specifications for Interoperability (STI LOC & PASS).
In his presentation, Călin outlined Astra’s work to align national manufacturing with European safety, quality, and interoperability standards. “Our vehicles are produced in Romania at European standards, with strict quality control in every phase of manufacturing,” he said, emphasising the company’s commitment to combining domestic expertise with EU-level certification.
Astra STI-compliant railcar built in Romania
Călin explained that the new railcar complies fully with EU regulations. Verification of conformity will be carried out by the Romanian Railway Authority (AFER), while final authorisation will be issued by the Romanian Railway Safety Authority (ASFR) in accordance with EU Regulation 3018/545. ASFR will also perform independent risk assessment as the Assessment Body (AsBo).
“This certification process guarantees that Astra’s products meet not only national legislation but the complete European interoperability framework,” Călin noted.
He described the railcar as the first Romanian-designed vehicle capable of seamless operation across EU-compliant networks — a step that places the country firmly on the European railway manufacturing map.
Technical specifications of Astra’s railcar:
- Maximum speed: up to 230 km/h
- Total length: approximately 26 metres
- Capacity: 77–80 seats
- Braking system: electromagnetic track brake
- Facilities: storage spaces for hand and large luggage
- Comfort features: air conditioning and LED lighting
- Accessibility: access for passengers with reduced mobility (PRM)
- On-board systems: monitoring and self-diagnostic system, Passenger Information System (PIS)
Experience from urban transport
The Technical Director also pointed to Astra’s decade-long record in tram production, with more than 200 vehicles delivered to six Romanian cities. These projects, he said, have strengthened Astra’s engineering base and provided valuable expertise that feeds directly into its mainline passenger-rail development.
“Our tram success proves that Romanian technology can compete with international manufacturers — and it gave us the experience needed to deliver a fully STI-compliant railcar,” he added.
Driving sustainable mobility
Călin concluded that Astra’s progress illustrates how national industry can contribute to Europe’s climate and mobility goals.
“We are proud to be initiators and promoters of genuine Romanian railway technology values,” he said.
“Astra Vagoane Călători is the ideal partner for the modernisation of passenger transport — bringing technology in motion for people, cities, and the future.”
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