Tram-Train network between Reșița – Timișoara, with branches to Traian Vuia Timișoara Airport and Stamora Moravița border crossing to Serbia

REGIONAL COOPERATION | GREEN MOBILITY

Challenge

The main challenge refers to the current state of Reșița, as a county seat city with aspirations that exceed the administrative status and the current economic level. Once an industrial hub of Romania, Reșița has lost most of its factories. Currently, the Caraș-Severin county’s economy is based on tourism and small manufacturing. The public transport system is expected to help the municipality overcome these issues with a superior interconnection at the regional level and the possibility to open new opportunities for the Reșița municipality and other municipalities along the connection line.

Solution

Tram-train Reșița – Timișoara

Rehabilitation of the Reşiţa Nord-Timişoara Nord railway and the hydrogen train on this route, a project that the county councils of Caraș-Severin and Timiș and the Reșița and Timișoara municipalities want to carry out in partnership, means first of all a project on the green component. The first steps were undertaken in 2021-2022, with the elaboration of the Pre-feasibility Study, of the Feasibility Study, elaboration of the technical documentation for technical project acquisition and execution, elaboration of the documentation in order to obtain financing within PNRR or through any other financing program from the financial cycle 2021-2027, for the project “Rehabilitation / Modernization of infrastructure railway Reșița Nord – Timișoara Nord with extension Voiteni – Stamora Moravița – border ”, was launched in June 2021.

The Reșița-Voiteni section, part of the Reșița Nord-Timișoara Nord railway, is included in Romania’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan, recently approved by the European Commission, for renewal in order to introduce hydrogen trains.

Reșița Tram line renewal

Reșița Municipality, in Caraș-Severin County implements a non-motorized mobility strategy in order to be suitable for a public transport almost entirely electric. The municipality launched a contract for a whole series of works to bring Reșița in the field of electricity and mobility without a low carbon footprint. A whole mixture of working packages will be implemented, divided into two lots – one for public transport, another one pedestrian, which involves, practically, that the entire urban infrastructure be renewed.

The project has a short term of delivery: 24 months from the signing of the contract and the issuance of the order to start the works. Both lots will be awarded to a single economic operator, so it will not be auctioned separately, on urban transport and pedestrian transport. Funding is provided from European funds, the Regional Infrastructure Operational Program and the local budget. In short, these types of works will be performed:

Project component 1: Relocation and protection of utility networks – relocation of the drinking water supply pipeline on Republicii Blvd. and relocation of the public lighting network on Timișoara Blvd.

  • Ensuring the necessary utilities for the investment objective – electrical connections, natural gas connections, water, sewerage;
  • Overhead contact line – dismantling existing structures and building a new line;
  • Triaj Passage – Passage Rehabilitation – Bus / Depot – Rehabilitation and Modernization of Existing Buildings (Maintenance Hall and Office Building, Laundry and Painting Hall) and Construction of a Tram Parking Structure – Containing Works for Resistance Structure, Architecture and Interior and Exterior Design , construction of installation networks (electrical, thermal, sanitary, fire detection and extinguishing).
  • Roadway – construction of a new roadway profile with green and paved areas.
  • Cables and rectification station – construction of the tram power cable installation and installation of a rectification station.

Project component 2: Arrangements for environmental protection and restoration of the land – planting trees and landscaping

  • Ensuring the necessary utilities for the investment objective – electrical connections;
  • Road, pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure – modernization of road and pedestrian infrastructure, construction of bicycle infrastructure, modernization of pedestrian areas Republic Square and Str. Ineu;
  • Bridges – rehabilitation of the Doman and Libertății passages;
  • Overhead contact line – dismantling existing structures and building a new line;
  • Roadway – construction of a roadway in the paved area;
  • Cables and rectification station – construction of the tram power cable installation and installation of a rectification station;
  • Parking lots – construction of car parking spaces;

This project will radically change Resita by reintroducing trams, setting Reșița as a pioneer in Romania in terms of urban mobility. The project is setting Reșița as an oasis of clean transport, urban regeneration and environment friendly urban places for the citizens.

Reșița Lunca Pomostului pedestrian streets

The landscape of six streets in the Lunca Pomostului district of Resita is reshaping through a project implemented by the local administration. The project will ensure that the landscape will be maintained for a long time to come. The outlook for Bielefeld Street, which will become pedestrianised, includes the construction of parking lots instead of garages. There will also be a generous driveway between Bielefeld and Nicolae Bălcescu streets, both flanking A.I. Cuza Boulevard. The municipality has agreed with all the garage owners for financial compensation for the demolition. Instead of 16 garages, there will be 27 parking spaces and a generous alley that will connect the two streets, Bălcescu and Bielefeld ”.

The Bielefeld pedestrian walkway is just a section in a larger initiative, which will start from Moroasa and will flow beyond Bârzava. The stairs starting from the Fluturelu area will be rebuilt, descending next to «Traian Lalescu» to A.I. Boulevard. Cuza, following that the pedestrian walk will not be too affected by the traffic light crossing. And the materials used there will also like the Bielefeld pedestrian walkway, which will cross the Revoluţiei Boulevard in December with a new elevated sidewalk, after which the walk will be able to continue with a pedestrian bridge, beyond Bârzava, thus connecting with the promenade provided in the area of ​​the shopping complex. And the vision includes the demolition of the buildings that still flank the Bârzava bank near the shopping complex area.

The 6 Streets project is part of a large initiative launched by the Resita City Hall to revitalise the city, in order to make it more fluid, but also more attractive, especially for its inhabitants, but also for potential investors and tourists. Some of the planned projects aim at alternative mobility, including the arrangement of the banks of the Bârzava and the integration of a bike route that crosses the entire city, the reintroduction of the tram line and the modernization of the civic center.