As Europe accelerates its shift toward a greener and fairer economy, Pur și Simplu Verde, together with the Faculty of Management at SNSPA, organized the conference “The Role of the Railway Industry in the Just Transition”, a satellite event of the European Climate Pact. The roundtable brought together representatives from government, the railway industry (both CFR and private operators), trade unions, and civil society, drawing on insights from the European AdJUST project.
The discussions highlighted a simple but long-overlooked truth: Romania cannot achieve a real energy transition without modernizing its railway system. Aging infrastructure, underinvestment, and institutional fragmentation were identified as major barriers to the development of this strategic sector, which accounts for only 1% of global CO₂ emissions.
Speakers included representatives from CFR, private rail operators, trade unions, and public administration. Gabriel Popa (CFR Călători) emphasized the urgent need for investments in infrastructure and rolling stock. Simona Istrate (OPSFPR) pointed to the decline in rail freight and called for a Climate Law to set investment priorities. Ștefan Roșeanu (TPBI) advocated for the integration of train stations into urban development plans, while Maxim Rodrigo Gabriel (FSTFR) underscored the need for genuine political involvement in revitalizing the sector.
Florina Pînzaru, head of the SNSPA team in the AdJUST project, highlighted widespread misconceptions about the concept of a "just transition" and the low absorption of available EU funds. She noted that only 4.5% of Romanians use the train as their main mode of transport — a figure directly linked to poor service quality, from delays and lack of cleanliness to insufficient comfort.
The conference concluded with a joint call for massive investment in railway infrastructure, coherent public policies, inter-institutional collaboration, and a sustained effort to inform and educate citizens about the benefits of rail transport.
The event reaffirmed that the green transition cannot succeed without an integrated approach — one that combines sustainability, social equity, and a clear strategy for the key sectors of the economy.