On Friday, the Commission for the Examination of Foreign Direct Investments (CEISD) gave the green light for RTI Railtrans to enter the local market by acquiring a 50% stake in EP Rail. The decision confirms not only the soundness of a large-scale transaction, but also the potential of the Romanian rail sector to become a magnet for international capital.
CEISD operates under the coordination of the Competition Council and has the role of analysing and endorsing foreign investments considered significant or sensitive from the perspective of national security and EU legislation.
European consolidation, Romanian expansion
RTI Railtrans, a company already active in Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Austria and Germany, is part of the logistics ecosystem developed by Richardi Transport, a member of the AZC Group in Slovakia. With 23 locomotives, over 2,500 wagons and an annual volume of 8 million tonnes transported, the operator enters Romania with a solid position and a clear expansion strategy.
By acquiring EP Rail, a local player recognised for its flexibility and customer orientation, RTI not only adds a new market to its portfolio, but also creates the premises for Romania’s integration into trans-European logistics networks.
Signal for the Romanian market
The CEISD approval has a significance that goes beyond simply validating the transaction. It is a signal that Romania is becoming attractive to major foreign investors in transport and logistics, at a time when the European Union is encouraging the shift of freight flows from road to rail.
This entry could trigger a consolidation dynamic on the local market, where operators such as CFR Marfă or other private carriers will have to respond by streamlining, investing and diversifying services.
Strategic impact
- For customers: access to integrated logistics solutions, fast connections to Western and Central Europe and competitive services in the transport of dangerous or specialised goods.
- For the market: emergence of a new pole of power able to put pressure on prices and quality of service.
- For infrastructure: the possibility of attracting additional investment, including in the modernisation of rolling stock and the development of regional logistics hubs.
Romania, a test for Richardi Transport
While the resources and experience of RTI Railtrans are undisputed, success in Romania depends on several key factors:
- The degree of collaboration with national infrastructure and regulatory authorities;
- The ability to integrate EP Rail without losing the flexibility advantage; and
- The responsiveness of the domestic market, where traditionally there is a fragile balance between local and international operators.
The CEISD approval marks the zero moment of a new phase of consolidation in the Romanian rail market. The entry of RTI Railtrans, backed by the logistical strength of Richardi Transport, can radically change Romania’s competition and positioning in the European transport networks.
More than a simple transaction, this step is a statement of confidence in Romania’s rail potential and a signal that the sector is becoming more and more interesting for major international investors.
Richardi Transport, a member of the influential AZC Group in Slovakia, is firmly positioning itself as a leading provider of logistic solutions and rail transport in Central and Eastern Europe. With significant investments in manufacturing, maintenance, transport and logistics infrastructure, the group is building a complete industrial ecosystem capable of supporting complex logistics chains – from raw materials to final multimodal delivery.
AZC Group – a European industrial force
AZC Group is a conglomerate with operations in more than 20 countries, which in 2023 recorded a turnover of more than EUR 2.7 billion with EBITDA of more than EUR 177 million. The Group’s strategy is based on innovation, operational flexibility and synergies between complementary domains. AZC companies share core values such as trust, stability, integrity and sustainability.
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