Romania's national railway company says a group of Turkish companies have won a 600 million-euro ($681 million) contract to modernize a key line in the northwest Transylvania region.

The CFR company said yesterday the 28-kilometer (17.5-mile) stretch would be built in the next four years. It's the most complex section of a 130-kilometer (80-mile) line that runs from the city of Brasov to the medieval fortress town of Sighisoara in the heart of Romania.

Built in 1873, the total journey currently takes between two and four hours, slower than 15 years ago. With the new line, it will take just under 50 minutes. Trains will travel up to 160 kph (100 mph).

The European Union will fund about 80 percent of the project, and the Romanian government the rest.