Hitachi Rail completed the installation and commissioning of advanced signalling solutions at Ciulnița and Fetești railway stations in Romania. The systems were installed on behalf of the National Railway Company CFR SA, Romania’s railway operator.
Ciulnița and Fetești stations are on the European TEN-T Corridor 22 between Central and Eastern Europe, on the route through Nürnberg, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Curtici, Simeria, Brașov, Bucharest, and Constanța. The work included modernisation of complex railway infrastructure and superstructures, civil engineering, and upgrading power supply and overhead lines. New telecommunications systems were also rolled out, including CCTV, passenger information, and public announcement systems.
A new-generation ESTW/IXL L90 RO electronic interlocking system was completed at Ciulnița station in December 2025, and in June 2026, the system was commissioned at Fetești station. The system is based on Hitachi’s Technology and Application System platform and the IPR7.0 software, and is the first time that the technology has been used on Romania’s railway network.
Among the advantages of the ESTW/IXL L90 RO platform are enhanced connectivity through advanced components such as a Data Logger that supports maintenance and diagnostics activities, and a Cyber Security Observer to strengthen cybersecurity capabilities. The design of the system allows faster deployment, has a lower energy consumption, and provides more accurate and timely travel information.
The commissioning of the systems at Ciulnița and Fetești is an important milestone for Romania’s national railway network, as it moves from the SELMIS platform, which has been in use for over 20 years, to modern, digital technology. The project complied throughout with European CENELEC standards for the safety, availability, and reliability of railway infrastructure.
Similar systems to the Ciulnița and Fetești installations have also been installed by Hitachi at Lillehammer in Norway.
“At Hitachi Rail, we believe the future of rail transport relies on smart technologies and strong partnerships. We are proud to support the digital transformation of Romania s railway infrastructure. This project reaffirms our commitment to a high-performing, digital, and interoperable railway system aligned with European standards. said Claudiu Seicean, CEO, Hitachi Rail in Romania.
Responses
Would this by any chance be the very Same Hitachi Rail that has constructed the class 810 train that failed operator Transport UK badged as EMR are now finding not fit for purpose. And every train when it does attempt to run comes complete with it’s own onboard Hitachi representative …if only to perform a “general reset” … This is hardly inspiring the next..