Calea Ferată din Moldova
Encyclopedia
CFM
CFM (Calea Ferată din Moldova, which means ″Moldovan Railway″ in Romanian
Romanian language
Romanian Romanian Romanian (or Daco-Romanian; obsolete spellings Rumanian, Roumanian; self-designation: română, limba română ("the Romanian language") or românește (lit. "in Romanian") is a Romance language spoken by around 24 to 28 million people, primarily in Romania and Moldova...
) is the only railway operator in the Republic of Moldova, that is responsible for passenger and cargo transportation, as well as the railway infrastructure maintenance, within the country. It is the successor of MZhD, a subdivision of the USSR railway. The total length of the network managed by CFM (as of 2009) is 1232 km, of which 1218 km is (broad gauge
Russian gauge
In railway terminology, Russian gauge refers to railway track with a gauge between 1,520 mm and . In a narrow sense as defined by Russian Railways it refers to gauge....
), and 14 km is (standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
). The entire network is single track
Single track (rail)
A single track railway is where trains in both directions share the same track. Single track is normally used on lesser used rail lines, often branch lines, where the traffic density is not high enough to justify the cost of building double tracks....
and is not electrified. It borders the Romanian railway network
Caile Ferate Române
Căile Ferate Române is the official designation of the state railway carrier of Romania. Romania has a railway network of of which are electrified and the total track length is . The network is significantly interconnected with other European railway networks, providing pan-European passenger...
, / break-of-gauge
Break-of-gauge
With railways, a break-of-gauge occurs where a line of one gauge meets a line of a different gauge. Trains and rolling stock cannot run through without some form of conversion between gauges, and freight and passengers must otherwise be transloaded...
, on the west, and the Ukrainian one on the east.
History
In 1844, Governor-General of NovorossiyaNovorossiya
Novorossiya is a historic area of lands which established itself solidly after the annexation of the Crimean Khanate by the Russian Empire, but was introduced with the establishment of Novorossiysk Governorate with the capital in Kremenchuk in the mid 18th century. Until that time in both Polish...
and Bessarabia
Bessarabia
Bessarabia is a historical term for the geographic region in Eastern Europe bounded by the Dniester River on the east and the Prut River on the west....
Count Mikhail Vorontsov
Mikhail Semyonovich Vorontsov
Prince Mikhail Semyonovich Vorontsov , was a Russian prince and field-marshal, renowned for his success in the Napoleonic wars, and most famous for his participation in the Caucasian War from 1844 to 1853....
has developed a project of a railway, connecting Odessa
Odessa
Odessa or Odesa is the administrative center of the Odessa Oblast located in southern Ukraine. The city is a major seaport located on the northwest shore of the Black Sea and the fourth largest city in Ukraine with a population of 1,029,000 .The predecessor of Odessa, a small Tatar settlement,...
and Parcani village by the Dniester
Dniester
The Dniester is a river in Eastern Europe. It runs through Ukraine and Moldova and separates most of Moldova's territory from the breakaway de facto state of Transnistria.-Names:...
. Odessa- Kiev railway company proposed to connect Odessa and Kiev with a branch to Parcani via Tiraspol
Tiraspol
Tiraspol is the second largest city in Moldova and is the capital and administrative centre of the unrecognized Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic . The city is located on the eastern bank of the Dniester River...
. According to the decree of Nikolay I, the construction was sponsored by the government funds.
In 1871 a bridge over the Dniester was constructed. On August 28, 1871, the railway linking Tiraspol with Chişinău
Chisinau
Chișinău is the capital and largest municipality of Moldova. It is also its main industrial and commercial centre and is located in the middle of the country, on the river Bîc...
was officially opened. This date is recognized as the date of establishment of Moldovan Railways. The line, connecting Bessarabia to the Black Sea and the railway network of Ukraine and Russia became the basis for the future development.
On a Russian diplomat agent, Ivan Alekseevich Zinov'ev and the Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Gheorghe Costaforu signed a rail junction covention, which was ratified on . On June 1, 1875, the line Chişinău-Corneşti
Corneşti, Moldova
Corneşti is a city in Ungheni district, in central Moldova, with a population of 3,284 at the 2004 census. It is composed of the city itself, population 2,781, and the village Romanovca, population 503.- History :...
-Ungheni
Ungheni
----Ungheni is the seventh largest city in Moldova and, since 2003, the seat of Ungheni District.There is a bridge across the Prut and a border checkpoint to Romania. There is another border town with the same name in Romania , on the other side of the Prut River.- History :The first historical...
was opened (the Chişinău-Corneşti
Corneşti, Moldova
Corneşti is a city in Ungheni district, in central Moldova, with a population of 3,284 at the 2004 census. It is composed of the city itself, population 2,781, and the village Romanovca, population 503.- History :...
railway was built between 1871 and 1873) and connection to Romania was established. The Eiffel Bridge
Eiffel Bridge, Ungheni
The Eiffel Bridge is a bridge over Prut and a checkpoint between Moldova and Romania. The bridge is located between Ungheni and Ungheni, Iaşi.- History :...
was opened on , just three days before the outbreak of the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878).
In the first months of the war the Tighina
Tighina
Bender or Bendery, also known as Tighina is a city within the internationally recognized borders of Moldova under de facto control of the unrecognized Transnistria Republic since 1992...
-Basarabeasca
Basarabeasca
Basarabeasca is a city in Moldova. It is the capital of Basarabeasca District.-Geography:The city, formerly an urban-type settlement, is located on the border with Ukraine. It is 94 km to the south of Chişinău, 25 km from Cimislia, and 25 km from Comrat...
-Reni
Reni
-People:* Guido Reni , Italian Baroque painter* Alan Wren , nicknamed Reni, drummer for The Stone Roses* Reni Mimura, a Japanese pop singer who is known for using cosplay in her performances....
-Giurgiuleşti
Giurgiulesti
Giurgiuleşti is a commune in the Cahul district of Moldova. It is also a border crossing point to Romania, located from Galaţi.- Geography :...
line was hastily built; it opened in November 1877.
In 1893-1894 the Lipcani
Lipcani
Lipcani is a town in Briceni District, Moldova. It is also a border crossing between Moldova and Romania.- Overview :Lipcani is located on the banks of the Prut river, which forms the border with Romania. The border with Ukraine is also only a few kilometers to the north. Lipcani is located in...
-Ocniţa
Ocniţa
Ocniţa is a city and the administrative center of Ocniţa District, Moldova....
-Otaci
Otaci
Otaci is a town on the South-Western bank of the Dniester River, which at that point forms the northeastern border of Moldova....
, Ocniţa-Bălţi
Balti
Balti can refer to:* Balti language, a language spoken in Baltistan in Pakistan and Ladakh in Kashmir* Balti people, Muslims of Ladakhi/Tibetan origin from Baltistan in Pakistan and Ladakh in Kashmir...
and Bălţi-Floreşti
Floresti, Moldova
Florești , is the capital city and industrial and commercial center of Floreşti District of Moldova. It is located on the river Răut.-Name:The name comes from the Moldavian word floare...
-Râbniţa-Cobasna
Cobasna
Cobasna is a commune consisting of three villages - Cobasna, Suhaia Rîbniţa , and Cobasna station - situated in northern Transnistria, Moldova. It is controlled by the authorities of Transnistria. It is located 2 km from the Ukrainian border, in the Rîbniţa sub-district...
lines started operation.
During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
the Bălţi-Ungheni section was built.
In the early 1920s, as Moldova had united with Romania
Union of Bessarabia with Romania
On , the Sfatul Ţării, or National Council, of Bessarabia proclaimed union with the Kingdom of Romania.-Governorate of Bessarabia:The 1812 Treaty of Bucharest between the Ottoman Empire and the Russian Empires provided for Russian annexation of the eastern half of the territory of the Principality...
, the tracks were converted to standard gauge. In the interwar years the Basarabeasca-Cantemir
Cantemir
- People :*members of the Cantemirești family:**Antioh Cantemir , son of Constantin Cantemir, Voivode of Moldavia**Antiokh Dmitrievich Kantemir - People :*members of the Cantemirești family:**Antioh Cantemir (died 1726), son of Constantin Cantemir, Voivode of Moldavia**Antiokh Dmitrievich Kantemir...
and Revaca-Căinari
Căinari
Căinari is a town in Căuşeni district, Moldova. One village is administered by the town, Căinari station.- Twin towns — Sister cities :Căinari is twinned with: Murfatlar, Romania-External links:*...
lines appeared.
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Moldova became part of the Soviet Union and the rail network reverted to broad gauge. During the Soviet era the Cantemir-Cahul
Cahul
-Demographics:According to the last Moldovan census from 2004 there were 35,488 people living within the city of Cahul and 1,317 people within Cotihana....
line was built (1971).
In 2005 the Revaca-Căinari railway was rebuilt (it was destroyed in 1944) and in 2007-2008 a Cahul-Giurgiuleşti line was constructed.
Rolling stock
Most of the rolling stock used by CFM was manufactured in the USSR and other countries of the Soviet block. The most widespread type of the traction unit is Soviet-built triple section 3TE10M (sometimes only 1 or 2 sections are used). Their use in Moldova was motivated by steep gradients on some portions of the rail network (especially, in the regions with hilly terrains), where additional power was needed to pull heavy freight trains. Other popular types of locomotives are M62 ("Mashka") and 2TE10L. Sometimes, CzechCzech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
-built shunters ChME3 are used as traction units for local passenger operations. The only type of DMU
Diesel multiple unit
A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines. They may also be referred to as a railcar or railmotor, depending on country.-Design:...
operated by CFM is D1, manufactured by Hungarian Ganz
Ganz
The Ganz electric works in Budapest is probably best known for the manufacture of tramcars, but was also a pioneer in the application of three-phase alternating current to electric railways. Ganz also made / makes: ships , bridge steel structures , high voltage equipment...
-MAVAG
MÁVAG
MÁVAG was a Hungarian rail vehicle producer. MÁVAG was the property of the Kingdom of Hungary. After the World War II MÁVAG was nationalized, and "Királyi" was removed from its name.The company employed thousands of workers. The buildings were in the VIII...
.
Political involvement
CFM personnel largely consists of Russian speakers, Russian is the language used in the process of operation. Notably, CFM chief executive Miron Gagauz, who held the post of the Minister of Transportation, was one of few members of the Government who did not speak the official language of the country. Historically, CFM has good relations with the Communist Party of Moldova. In 2009, its employees signed a letter where they condemned the opposition protests that followed the 2009 parliamentary electionsMoldovan parliamentary election, 2009
A parliamentary election was held in Moldova on 5 April 2009. The Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova won a majority of seats for the third consecutive occasion. Turnout was 59.49 percent, exceeding the 50% necessary for the election to be valid...
. They described the events as "an attempt to bring chaos into the country and to destroy everything positive that was built by the current government", claimed that "the elections were carried out in conformity with the international norms and national law on elections" and "the victory of the communists is a logical result of their eight-year stay in power", expressed "full support to the elected power", and called on "punishing the responsible".
Rail links to adjacent countries
Between Moldova and Romania there is a break-of-gaugeBreak-of-gauge
With railways, a break-of-gauge occurs where a line of one gauge meets a line of a different gauge. Trains and rolling stock cannot run through without some form of conversion between gauges, and freight and passengers must otherwise be transloaded...
(Romania employing standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
). The most important crossing (including gauge changing equipment
Bogie exchange
Bogie exchange is a system for operating railway wagons on two or more gauges to overcome difference in the track gauge. To perform a bogie exchange, a car is converted from one gauge to another by removing the chassis containing the wheels and axles of the car, and installing a new chassis with...
) is Ungheni
Ungheni
----Ungheni is the seventh largest city in Moldova and, since 2003, the seat of Ungheni District.There is a bridge across the Prut and a border checkpoint to Romania. There is another border town with the same name in Romania , on the other side of the Prut River.- History :The first historical...
-Iaşi
Iasi
Iași is the second most populous city and a municipality in Romania. Located in the historical Moldavia region, Iași has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Romanian social, cultural, academic and artistic life...
, another two are Cantemir
Cantemir
- People :*members of the Cantemirești family:**Antioh Cantemir , son of Constantin Cantemir, Voivode of Moldavia**Antiokh Dmitrievich Kantemir - People :*members of the Cantemirești family:**Antioh Cantemir (died 1726), son of Constantin Cantemir, Voivode of Moldavia**Antiokh Dmitrievich Kantemir...
-Falciu and Giurgiuleşti
Giurgiulesti
Giurgiuleşti is a commune in the Cahul district of Moldova. It is also a border crossing point to Romania, located from Galaţi.- Geography :...
-Galaţi
Galati
Galați is a city and municipality in Romania, the capital of Galați County. Located in the historical region of Moldavia, in the close vicinity of Brăila, Galați is the largest port and sea port on the Danube River and the second largest Romanian port....
. International passenger trains run to Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
, Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
, Minsk
Minsk
- Ecological situation :The ecological situation is monitored by Republican Center of Radioactive and Environmental Control .During 2003–2008 the overall weight of contaminants increased from 186,000 to 247,400 tons. The change of gas as industrial fuel to mazut for financial reasons has worsened...
, Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
and Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
.
- Same gauge:
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Ukraine
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- break-of-gaugeBreak-of-gaugeWith railways, a break-of-gauge occurs where a line of one gauge meets a line of a different gauge. Trains and rolling stock cannot run through without some form of conversion between gauges, and freight and passengers must otherwise be transloaded...
:-
RomaniaCaile Ferate RomâneCăile Ferate Române is the official designation of the state railway carrier of Romania. Romania has a railway network of of which are electrified and the total track length is . The network is significantly interconnected with other European railway networks, providing pan-European passenger...
/
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