UZ Cargo Poland Delivers French City Buses to Ukraine via Cross-Border Rail

UZ Cargo Poland has taken part in the rail transport of the first 30 city buses delivered from France to Ukraine, supporting the restoration of public transport capacity in regions affected by the Russian war.

A complex rail operation has brought the first batch of French city buses to Ukraine, showing how cross-border rail logistics are increasingly supporting the country’s transport recovery amid the Russian full-scale war.

UZ Cargo Poland participated in the transport of 30 urban buses from the Paris region to Ukraine, using a rail-based solution that crossed France, Germany, and Poland before entering Ukraine’s broad-gauge network. According to the company, the shipment relied on specialised rail platforms and required precise coordination at the EU–Ukraine gauge break.

Managing Gauge Change and Cross-Border Rail Complexity

The buses were transferred at the Zamość Bortatycze terminal in Poland, where UZ Cargo Poland, together with PKP LHS, organised the transhipment from standard-gauge wagons (1,435 mm) to broad-gauge platforms (1,520 mm). The operation included securing the vehicles and applying protective covers to windscreens and side glazing to prevent damage during onward transport.

According to UZ Cargo Poland, the project shows how rail can provide a reliable solution for oversized and non-standard cargo, even where different track gauges and legal regimes apply. The transport was carried out under both the CIM and SMGS railway law frameworks, allowing the shipment to move smoothly across borders and regulatory systems.

The delivery also continues the development of contrailer transport services operated jointly by UZ Cargo Poland and PKP LHS. As noted by the company, similar rail movements have already been carried out for road trains and semi-trailers between terminals in Ukraine and Poland via the Izov–Hrubieszów border crossing.

Buses Allocated to Kyiv Region Communities

Once delivered, the buses were allocated to municipalities in the Kyiv region, where they are being prepared for entry into service on local routes. According to mmr.net.ua and Ukrainian regional authorities, the vehicles will be distributed among communities, including Bucha, Brovary, Bila Tserkva, Vyshhorod, Vyshneve, Vasylkiv, and Boyarka.

The buses, manufactured by IVECO and previously operated in Paris, are part of a broader agreement under which 260 city buses are expected to be transferred to the region. Before delivery, the vehicles underwent technical inspections and were supplied with spare parts to enable rapid deployment. They are equipped with low-floor access, electric ramps for passengers with reduced mobility, CCTV systems, emergency call buttons, electronic ticket validators, and GPS tracking.

Ukrainian Railways coordinated the logistics of the shipment, with regional officials noting that rail transport made it possible to deliver a large batch of vehicles within a short timeframe, despite wartime constraints. Local authorities estimate that more than 100 public transport vehicles were destroyed or damaged in the Kyiv region during Russian attacks. Against this backdrop, rail-based international logistics are becoming a critical tool for restoring urban mobility and supporting day-to-day life in affected communities.