The Transport Ministry will start to re-structure 9 railroad companies, the process involving the lay-off of over 4,000 employees, a ministry official, Constantin Axinia, declared on Thursday.

"The nine companies generate costs and their only beneficiaries", said Constantin Axinte. According to the official, all nine companies separated from mother-companies, without any patrimony. Each of the nine generates costs between 2 and 4 million RON per month. "The mother-companies, which are majority stockholders, buy the equipment for the nine companies, pay their salaries and expenses, even the fuel necessary to function", said Axinia, who estimated that the re-structuring will take some 3 months.