CFR Marfă

[1] Formerly the freight division of Căile Ferate Române (CFR), it was separated in 1998 to become a semi-independent business.

In April 2013, under pressure from the IMF to reform the state sector,[2] the Romanian government offered to sell a 51% stake in CFR Marfă[3] In May 2013, three bids were received; from OmniTRAX, SC Grup Feroviar Român, and a partnership between Transferoviar Grup and Donau-Finanz.

[5] In September 2013, the 51% stake in CFR Marfă was sold to Grup Feroviar Român for €202 million, although complete payment would be deferred until the deal is approved by competition authorities.[6].

[9] In light of CFR Marfă’s dire financial position, the Romanian government has announced plans to liquidate the company and replace it with a new entity, Carpatica Feroviar.

The new entity should take over CFR Marfă’s role in the Romanian freight rail sector in March 2025.