Transport in Moldova
Encyclopedia
In 1995, the main means of transportation in Moldova
were railroads (1138 km (707 mi)) and a highway system (12730 km (7,910 mi) overall, including 10973 km (6,818 mi) of paved surfaces). The major railroad junctions are Chişinău
, Bender
, Ungheni
, Ocniţa
(Oknitsa, in Russian), Bălţi
, and Basarabeasca
(Bessarabka, in Russian). Primary external rail links connect the republic's network with Odessa
(in Ukraine
) on the Black Sea and with the Romania
n cities of Iaşi
and Galaţi
; they also lead northward into Ukraine
. Highways link Moldova's main cities and provide the chief means of transportation within the country, but roads are in poor repair, and gasoline shortages make interurban motor transportation difficult. The country's major airport is in Chişinău
.
Shipping is possible on the lower Prut
and Nistru rivers, but water transportation plays only a modest role in the country's transportation system. In 1990 a total of 317 million tonkilometers of freight were carried on inland waterways as compared with 15,007 million ton-kilometers on railroads and 1,673 million ton-kilometers on roads.
The movement of manufactured goods and of passengers on all means of transportation started to decline in 1989. From 1993 to 1994, for example, the total amount of transported goods fell by 31 percent, passenger traffic decreased by 28 percent, and the number of passengers declined by 24 percent. The main causes for these declines are the high cost of transportation, a lack of fuels, and the poor state of Moldova's transportation infrastructure: approximately 20 percent of Moldova's roads are considered in a critical technical state.
For transportation in the Soviet Union, see Transport in the Soviet Union
.
total:
1138 km (707 mi)
broad gauge:
1124 km (698 mi) of gauge (2005)
The entire length of the Moldovan railway
network is single track and not electrified. Much of the railroad infrastructure is still in a poor state, all of the rolling stock being inherited from the former Soviet Union. Average commercial speed for passenger trains is 35–40 km/h (21.7–24.9 mph) (including stops).
However, substantial investments have been made in building new railway lines since 2003, with the goal of connecting Chişinău
to southern Moldova and eventually to the Giurgiuleşti
oil terminal. The first such segment was the 40 km (25 mi) Revaca–Căinari
line, opened in 2006.
Connections exist to Ukraine
at Kuchurhan
, Mohilyv-Podil's'ky, Ocniţa
. The track between Basarabeasca
and Reni
crosses the border back and forth. Note that the Kuchurhan
crossing as well as the Tighina
–Tiraspol
–Kuchurhan
segment are under the control of the Transnistrian separatist authorities, the circulation of trains on the route depending on the level of political tensions between the separatists and the Government of Moldova.
Between Moldova and Romania there is a break-of-gauge
(Romania employing standard gauge
). The most important crossing (including gauge changing equipment
) is Ungheni
-Iaşi
, another two are Cantemir
-Falciu and Giurgiuleşti
-Galaţi
. International passenger trains run to Bucharest
, Kiev
, Minsk
, Saint Petersburg
and Moscow
.
total:
12730 km (7,910 mi)
paved:
10973 km (6,818 mi)
unpaved:
1757 km (1,092 mi) (2003)
at Giurgiuleşti
(Cahul
), compatible with small seagoing vessels. The harbor was opened in 2006 and occupies the entire Moldovan stretch of the river (less than 600 m (1,969 ft)).
total:
7 ships (1000 GRT or over) 13,831 GRT/
by type:
cargo 7
foreign-owned:
3 (Ukraine 3) (2006)
12 (2006 est.). One airport (Chişinău International Airport
) has commercial flights (approximately 20 destinations and 688,000 passengers in 2007).
total:
7
over 3047 m (9,997 ft):
1
2438 to 3047 m (7,998.7 to 9,996.7 ft):
2
1524 to 2437 m (5,000 to 7,995.4 ft):
2
under 914 m (2,999 ft):
1 (2006 est.)
total:
6
914 to 1523 m (2,998.7 to 4,996.7 ft):
3
under 914 m (2,999 ft):
3 (2006 est.)
Moldova
Moldova , officially the Republic of Moldova is a landlocked state in Eastern Europe, located between Romania to the West and Ukraine to the North, East and South. It declared itself an independent state with the same boundaries as the preceding Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1991, as part...
were railroads (1138 km (707 mi)) and a highway system (12730 km (7,910 mi) overall, including 10973 km (6,818 mi) of paved surfaces). The major railroad junctions are 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...
, Bender
Bender, Moldova
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...
, 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...
, Ocniţa
Ocniţa
Ocniţa is a city and the administrative center of Ocniţa District, Moldova....
(Oknitsa, in Russian), 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 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...
(Bessarabka, in Russian). Primary external rail links connect the republic's network with 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,...
(in Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
) on the Black Sea and with the Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n cities of 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...
and 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....
; they also lead northward into Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
. Highways link Moldova's main cities and provide the chief means of transportation within the country, but roads are in poor repair, and gasoline shortages make interurban motor transportation difficult. The country's major airport is in 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...
.
Shipping is possible on the lower Prut
Prut
The Prut is a long river in Eastern Europe. In part of its course it forms the border between Romania and Moldova.-Overview:...
and Nistru rivers, but water transportation plays only a modest role in the country's transportation system. In 1990 a total of 317 million tonkilometers of freight were carried on inland waterways as compared with 15,007 million ton-kilometers on railroads and 1,673 million ton-kilometers on roads.
The movement of manufactured goods and of passengers on all means of transportation started to decline in 1989. From 1993 to 1994, for example, the total amount of transported goods fell by 31 percent, passenger traffic decreased by 28 percent, and the number of passengers declined by 24 percent. The main causes for these declines are the high cost of transportation, a lack of fuels, and the poor state of Moldova's transportation infrastructure: approximately 20 percent of Moldova's roads are considered in a critical technical state.
For transportation in the Soviet Union, see Transport in the Soviet Union
Transport in the Soviet Union
Transport in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was an important part of the nation's economy. The economic centralisation of the late 1920s and 1930s led to the development of infrastructure at a massive scale and rapid pace. Before the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991, there were a wide...
.
Railways
total:
1138 km (707 mi)
broad gauge:
1124 km (698 mi) of gauge (2005)
The entire length of the Moldovan railway
Calea Ferată din Moldova
CFM 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...
network is single track and not electrified. Much of the railroad infrastructure is still in a poor state, all of the rolling stock being inherited from the former Soviet Union. Average commercial speed for passenger trains is 35–40 km/h (21.7–24.9 mph) (including stops).
However, substantial investments have been made in building new railway lines since 2003, with the goal of connecting 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...
to southern Moldova and eventually to the 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 :...
oil terminal. The first such segment was the 40 km (25 mi) 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:*...
line, opened in 2006.
Connections exist to Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
at Kuchurhan
Kuchurhan
Kuchurhan is a village in the Rozdilnianskyi Raion of the Odessa Oblast in Ukraine. It is located along the Kuchurhan River at the north end of the Kuchurhan Reservoir along the border with Transnistria in Moldova...
, Mohilyv-Podil's'ky, Ocniţa
Ocniţa
Ocniţa is a city and the administrative center of Ocniţa District, Moldova....
. The track between 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...
and 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....
crosses the border back and forth. Note that the Kuchurhan
Kuchurhan
Kuchurhan is a village in the Rozdilnianskyi Raion of the Odessa Oblast in Ukraine. It is located along the Kuchurhan River at the north end of the Kuchurhan Reservoir along the border with Transnistria in Moldova...
crossing as well as 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...
–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...
–Kuchurhan
Kuchurhan
Kuchurhan is a village in the Rozdilnianskyi Raion of the Odessa Oblast in Ukraine. It is located along the Kuchurhan River at the north end of the Kuchurhan Reservoir along the border with Transnistria in Moldova...
segment are under the control of the Transnistrian separatist authorities, the circulation of trains on the route depending on the level of political tensions between the separatists and the Government of Moldova.
Between Moldova and Romania there is a 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...
(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...
.
Highways
total:
12730 km (7,910 mi)
paved:
10973 km (6,818 mi)
unpaved:
1757 km (1,092 mi) (2003)
Waterways
(on the Nistru River) (2005). Parts fully under control of the separatist Transnistrian authorities.- a tiny (400–650 m (1,312.3–2,132.5 ft)) access to the DanubeDanubeThe Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
at Giurgiulești.
Ports and harbors
Moldova has one small oil terminal on the DanubeDanube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
at 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 :...
(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....
), compatible with small seagoing vessels. The harbor was opened in 2006 and occupies the entire Moldovan stretch of the river (less than 600 m (1,969 ft)).
Merchant marine
total:
7 ships (1000 GRT or over) 13,831 GRT/
by type:
cargo 7
foreign-owned:
3 (Ukraine 3) (2006)
Airports
Chisinau International Airport
Chișinău International Airport is the main international airport in Chișinău, Moldova, located southeast of the centre of Chişinău, the capital city.-History:...
) has commercial flights (approximately 20 destinations and 688,000 passengers in 2007).
Airports - with paved runways
total:
7
over 3047 m (9,997 ft):
1
2438 to 3047 m (7,998.7 to 9,996.7 ft):
2
1524 to 2437 m (5,000 to 7,995.4 ft):
2
under 914 m (2,999 ft):
1 (2006 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total:
6
914 to 1523 m (2,998.7 to 4,996.7 ft):
3
under 914 m (2,999 ft):
3 (2006 est.)
See also
- Calea Ferată din MoldovaCalea Ferată din MoldovaCFM 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...
- National Moldova railway
- MoldovaMoldovaMoldova , officially the Republic of Moldova is a landlocked state in Eastern Europe, located between Romania to the West and Ukraine to the North, East and South. It declared itself an independent state with the same boundaries as the preceding Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1991, as part...