Ovidiu Vrânceanu, BraŞov
Regiotrans - Brasov, Romania"s largest railway passenger transportation company in the private sector and the top competitor of the State-controlled CFR Calatori, is aiming for an annual turnover of 126.7 million RON, up by 93% from last year, based on a notable increase in the overall number of passengers.
The company concluded last year with a turnover of 65.8 million RON derived from the transportation of 2.73 million passengers. According to the management, the best performing public infrastructure routes are Brasov - Bucharest - Constanta, Brasov - Miercurea Ciuc and Sighisoara - Sibiu. On the non-interoperable infrastructure, the company services primarily commuters on all available routes.
The ongoing economic crisis has not taken a notable toll on Regiotrans" business as the turnover surged from 11 million RON in the first quarter of 2008 to more than 22 million RON in the corresponding period of 2009. The number of passengers increased by 55% from 638,665 to 993,200.
Costel Comana, the businessman who controls Regiotrans, unveiled estimates pointing to a two-fold increase in market share from 5% last year to 10% at the end of 2009 in the context that the price of the tickets and the incentives offered to pupils, students and pensioners are identical as those offered by CFR Calatori, based on a legal provision ceiling the prices for such services at the level set by the public operator.