Metrorex fare hike could be reversed. The decision is on the table of Radu Miruță, the future interim from Transporturi
The future interim minister of transport, Radu Miruță, could cancel the Order regarding the increase of up to 44% in the tariffs charged by Metrorex. According to the information obtained by “Adevărul”, Miruță is going to make an evaluation taking into account the arguments that were the basis of the price increases, the financial situation of the company, but also the way in which the reforms were implemented.
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The resigned Minister of Transport, Ciprian Şerban, signed, on Tuesday, the Order to increase the rates charged by Metrorex. The new prices will come into effect on May 1: a subway trip will cost 7 lei, and a 10-trip card will cost 55 lei. The 24-hour subscription will be priced at 18 lei, while the monthly subscription will cost 140 lei, compared to 100 lei at present.
Increases are also provided for subscriptions integrated with STB. Thus, a monthly subscription will increase to 196 lei, from 160 lei at present, and the annual subscription will reach 1,770 lei, compared to 1,410 lei in the current tariff grid.
“I didn't detonate any bomb. After all, you know that the minister doesn't run Metrorex. Metrorex is run by a Board of Directors, first of all. It was a proposal of the Board of Directors. He followed all the procedural steps. It came to my attention, I signed that order. Moreover, they keep accusing us of doing all kinds of things, of blocking any reform, I tell you that since the last increase in the price per trip until now the energy electricity increased by 160%. I was going to be accused the next day of blocking Metrorex's activity. It's a decision taken by the management, with the Board of Directors.” explained Ciprian Şerban.
The average gross salary in Metrorex – 15,400 lei
Metrorex requested a subsidy of 1.2 billion lei from the Ministry of Transport for 2026. He received 761 million lei, i.e. 62% of the requested amount. The resulting funding shortfall, of over 451 million lei, was used as the main argument for increasing tariffs by approximately 40%.
Metrorex's financial context is broader, however. The company, with approximately 5,000 employees, has budgeted personnel expenses of over 1 billion lei. The average gross salary of an employee is approximately 15,400 lei per month, i.e. approximately 9,000 lei net.
As “The Truth” recently revealed, of the 5,000 employees, 186 are solely responsible for selling cards at the counter. Their annual cost is approximately 35 million lei.
The problem is that in parallel there is an infrastructure that makes these employees redundant. Metrorex currently operates 269 card vending machines, last year launched an online platform for purchasing season tickets and installed new turnstiles that allow direct payment by card or mobile phone.
