European Year of Railways

Through Decision (EU) 2020/2228 of the European Parliament and of the Council of the 23rd of December 2020, the European Commission has designated year 2021 as the “European Year of Rail”.

Romfilatelia marked this event through a postage stamps issue having the same title.

The issue “European Year of Rail”, composed of four postage stamps which approach a topic appreciated by the collectors, will enter into circulation on Friday, 10th of September,this year.

The “European Year of Rail” creates an impulse for contributing to the growth of the railway sector’s share in the passenger and goods transport. This shall significantly reduce the greenhouse gas emissions and pollution generated by the transport activity at EU level, which shall bring a major contribution to the European Union’s efforts in the framework of the European Green Deal.

Providing mobility on the railways offers a durable alternative in the face of the current and future difficulties and, in order to limit the CO2 emissions, travelling by train must become a common thing, because the train represents one of the safest and most ecological modes of transport.

In the European Union, the railway transport is responsible for less than 0.5% of the greenhouse gas emissions generated by the transport activity. This makes it one of the most durable forms of passenger and goods transport. Among other advantages, the railway transport is safe and connects people and undertakings from the whole Europe by means of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T).

In the context of the “European Year of Rail”, the European Commission organises, with the involvement of the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies – CER, of the European Railway undertakings, of the infrastructure managers and of numerous other partners at community and local levels, an unique itinerant event with a dedicated train – the “Connecting Europe Express” train, which crosses the continent this autumn, reaching over 40 cities in 26 countries, in 36 days. The start of the “Connecting Europe Express” train took place on the 2nd of September 2021, when it departed Lisbon, travelling through European capitals and ending its journey on the 7th of October 2021, when it shall reach Paris - its final destination.

An important part of this initiative is represented by the events taking place in the capitals and other cities where the train is scheduled to stop. On the Romanian territory, the train stops in Bucharest, Brasov, Sibiu, Cluj Napoca, Oradea and Arad, crossing the country between the 17th and 19th of September 2021, on the Giurgiu North – Bucharest North – Braşov – Sibiu – Cluj Napoca – Oradea – Arad – Curtici route. In the above-mentioned stations, the Romanian authorities shall also organise welcome events for the participants, as well as a conference hosted by DG Move / European Commission and the Romanian officials, which shall take place in Bucharest.

At European level, the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies – CER has been tasked by the European Commission with planning, coordinating and implementing the circulation of the “Connecting Europe Express” train.

On the stamp with the face value of Lei 1.40 is illustrated the “Resicza” no. 2 steam locomotive, the first built in Southeast Europe, in 1872, at the Resita locomotive factory;

On the stamp with the face value of Lei 2 is represented train composed of a DMU in the new Henri Coanda Airport Rail station from Otopeni, from which transport with direct trains has been provided to the Bucharest North station beginning with the 2020/2021 timetable;

The third stamp of the series with the face value of Lei 5.50 graphically depicts the 060 DA type modernized diesel locomotive, with a 2100 HP power, model built in Romania between 1959 and 1988 and modernised between 2000 and 2007;

On the stamp with the face value of Lei 19.50 is illustrated the 41 series 060 EA electric locomotive, with a 5100 kW power, model built in Romania between 1964 and 1991;

On the minisheeets’ borders are reproduced the logo of the European Year of Rail, Hop ON!#EUYearofRail, as well as the stickering scheme of the locomotives hauling the “Connecting Europe Express” train. The stamps’ graphic of the minisheets’ is completed with four perforated holes in the vicinity of the 72 mm sides.

The route travelled by the “Connecting Europe Express” train on the Romanian territory, is represented on the First Day Cover of the issue.

Romfilatelia thank to the specialists of The National Railway Transport Company “C.F.R. Călători”- SA for the documentary support granted in developing of this postage stamps issue.