photo: Archive/Ukraine will integrate its transport system into the EU one. Here's what you might find exciting
Ukraine is reorienting its transport system according to European standards and increasing transport opportunities for crossing borders with the European Union.
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Starting on August 22, the railway connection Berezino (Ukraine) - Bessarabska (Republic of Moldova) began operating.
The Ukrainian government planned to intensify the process of negotiations regarding the opening of joint checkpoints on the border with Poland. In particular, the most crucial transport during Russia's military aggression is the railway, so changes in this direction are key to the Ukrainian transport system's integration with the EU one.
In addition to the wagons' modernization, the changes should also concern the width of the track. Due to the difference in track, obstacles arise on the western borders and slow down the speed with which Ukrainian goods can be exported, and imported goods can enter the country.
"We understand that we will need to build a European track in Ukraine and combine our railway network with the European one. At least the main junctions should reach us as a European track," says Minister of Infrastructure Oleksandr Kubrakov.
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Deutsche Bahn's (DB) extensive inspection programme for concrete sleepers in the rail network is nearing completion. Since July, DB experts have been inspecting…
However, according to the transport expert and former deputy head of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Viktor Dovgan, Ukraine will not be able to completely change the Ukrainian track to the European standard since its replacement will lead to many fundamental changes, including the modernization of the rolling stock and various other systems.
"It is important not just to restore but to expand the throughput. Because we have a problem with exports and need to continue the narrow gauge, build terminals, normal passenger service. And continue the narrow gauge, not to Kyiv but, at least, to restore it to Kovel, Mukachevo, Lviv. That is, for short sections, because we will not be able to pull out large ones," says transport expert Viktor Dovgan.
It is noted that, according to the estimations of the adviser to the Minister of Strategic Industries, Georgii Zubko, the cost of completely replacing the domestic track with a European one may take 30-40 years and cost approximately 150 billion hryvnias.
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Alstom has secured an additional order worth nearly EUR 590 million from SNCF Voyageurs for 15 new-generation Avelia Horizon very high-speed trains.
"The cost of completely replacing the track width with the European one for 20 thousand km of tracks and the modernization of the accompanying infrastructure in the country requires 120-150 billion hryvnias and will take 30-40 years. Depending on the state of the railway infrastructure and the topography of the area, the cost of laying one kilometre of the European track will be from 6 up to 22 million hryvnias. Therefore, the approach of a sustainable transition and modernization of the infrastructure through consistent and logical projects of the transition to the euro track is logical," says the advisor to the Minister of Strategic Industries, Georgii Zubko.