Grampet: Redefining performance in freight rail transport

As the head of the largest group of private railway companies with Romanian ownership in Southeast Europe and a leader in the industry, Gruia Stoica, the President of Grampet, firmly believes that his company will play a pivotal role in the region. Business Review spoke to him about the ways in which Grampet brings added value for the local economy.

By Anda Sebesi

What were the biggest challenges Grampet faced in 2023?

One of the key challenges was to maintain the agility we have shown in recent years across all companies within the group. We managed to quickly and efficiently respond to market needs, providing our customers with integrated and sustainable freight transport solutions and high-performance logistics services. Currently, GRAMPET is the largest group of private railway companies with Romanian ownership in Southeast Europe and a leader in the industry.

Equally important for us was upholding the responsibility we undertook as a key player in facilitating Ukrainian exports following the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. We quickly understood the new context and remained the only railway operator in Romania involved in the Solidarity Lanes project, initiated by EU member states to facilitate the transport of goods from Ukraine. Over 1.5 million net tonnes of Ukrainian goods have been transported so far through the companies within the GRAMPET holding.

What were the most important projects the company carried out in 2023?

In addition to the commitment we made to support the coordinated efforts of Romania and EU countries in aiding the reconstruction of Ukraine, we have continued to invest in projects aimed at modernising freight rail transport and fostering youth education and workforce development. In 2023, Grup Feroviar Roman, the flagship company of the GRAMPET Group, introduced the International Consignment Note (CMR), offering numerous benefits such as reducing the contract completion time from an hour to just five minutes for transport. This year, GFR became a partner company in the “Politehnica Bucharest Dual Campus” project initiated by the Politehnica Bucharest National University of Science and Technology (UNSTPB) to address real workforce needs. In addition, the GFR Laboratory inaugurated within the School of Transport will provide students access to study programmes and high-performance software solutions that are essential for deepening their knowledge. Moreover, we take pride in the company’s efforts to invest in educating 1,200 young enthusiasts in the railway sector through the GFR School project.

What’s the current state of the transport industry and what changes should we expect to see in the coming years?

Railways stand as one of the most sustainable modes of transport, and more European countries are intensifying their investments towards upgrading and developing infrastructure while optimising energy consumption, due to the advantages they offer in achieving sustainability goals. Authorities in Romania have expressed their intentions to support the decarbonisation process of transportation through investments in railway infrastructure, but they need to come up with concrete measures in this regard.

Unfortunately, Romania hasn’t fully utilised available European funds for improving its railway infrastructure in the past 30 years, and currently, only 15% of the total volume of goods is transported by rail. If this were to change, doubling the amount of goods transported by rail could remove a million trucks from the roads.

How important are ESG and sustainability criteria for Grampet?

We’re aware of our role as leaders in private freight rail transport and aim to be a reliable partner in creating a sustainable future for generations to come. That’s why we continuously invest in digitalizing services, in modernising railway infrastructure and rolling stock, as well as in education and social partnerships. The Toflea Foundation is a soul project for me because it focuses on integrating students from the Roma community into society. Through the foundation, young people from the Brahanesti commune in Galati County are given the opportunity to prepare and adapt to contemporary societal demands while being encouraged to maintain their ethnic identity and authenticity.

What is the outlook for the transport industry in 2024?

Recent years have taught us the meaning of resilience, agility, and the ability to seize emerging opportunities. We will remain committed to our goal of redefining standards of quality and performance in freight rail transport and connecting the region and the world. We firmly believe that our role in the region will be pivotal, and the objectives we’ve set for ourselves are highly ambitious.

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