CFR Cãlãtori arrears delay salaries at Astra Passenger Coaches

CFR Călători, a railway operator controlled by the state, owes Astra Passenger Coaches Arad RON 41.1 million (some €10 mln) for products that have already been delivered.

Blidar told Business Standard that he was presently forced to delay payment of his employees’ salaries, mainly because of these debts. “We have never been in such a situation. I, in turn, have debts to my suppliers,” the businessman added. He further said that the contract with CFR Călători stretches on a longer period of time, but, for the time being, because the state operator lacks sufficient funds, the contract will be delayed. According to the agreement, Astra Passenger Coaches Arad is supposed to produce 60 railway cars annually, for three years. On the other hand, the General Manager of CFR Călători, Rãzvan Laurenþiu Stoica, told Business Standard that, in the company’s accounting records, the debt to Astra Passenger Coaches Arad is not so high.

“CFR Călători registers debts to various private companies, due to the granting of insufficient compensations from the state budget and to a drop in revenues from the sale of travelling tickets,” Stoica said.