The first standard gauge locomotive crosses the Prut River from Romania into Moldova

The first standard gauge locomotive crossed the Prut from Romania, marking a historic moment for rail transport. The test train crossed the state border Fălciu – Prut, testing the recently constructed standard gauge line on the Moldovan side, from the bridge over the Prut River to the Prut station, Cantemir.

This technical course is an important step in the completion and operationalization of the railway Zorleni – Fălciu (Romania) – Cantemir (Moldova). Previously, in December 2025, a test was conducted on the broad gauge railway to verify the technical condition of the rehabilitated section. The international context is relevant, as in March 2022, the Zorleni–Fălciu–Border line was temporarily reopened to support Ukrainian refugees. In January 2025, a complete reconstruction of the line was agreed upon, and in April 2025, CFR SA and CFM signed a Memorandum of Understanding to resume the railway connection on this corridor.