New player in Poland – and beyond?
Ukrainian Railways cooperating with partners in Europe. Poland’s rail authority has granted a railway licence to a regional subsidiary of Ukrainian Railways. The traction permit opens the door for it to enter the European railfreight market.
Ukrainian Railways (Ukrzaliznytsia UZ) can now handle rail transport in Poland under its own steam. The licence to do so represents a further step towards the enterprise becoming a fully-fledged international railway company with national and international operations that offers cross-border transport from a single source.
Ukrainian Railways Cargo Poland had already established a Polish national company last year and registered the entity in Warsaw. The Polish cargo subsidiary is set to be launched and offer a comprehensive range of transport services next year. In future it will also handle railway transport needs between Ukraine and Poland and other European countries.
One-stop door-to-door service
In an initial phase, however, Ukrainian Railways Cargo Poland will focus on creating the necessary capacities for cross-border rail transport. The aim is to establish its own door-to-door service, so that Polish and Ukrainian shippers no longer have to conclude contracts with different companies for cross-border rail transport.
In addition, the railway company plans to offer transport on normal and wide gauge lines with a track width of 1,435 mm and 1,520 mm respectively. This service has been designed to enable efficient rail traffic at all Ukrainian border crossings with Poland.
Technical cooperation with Adif
It’s not just the Polish traction licence that has brought Ukrainian Railways closer to Europe, however. Special rolling stock is also intended to promote UZ’s complete integration into the European railfreight market.
As part of a pilot project, the Spanish railway infrastructure manager Adif and UZ recently decided to cooperate. The aim is to develop railway cars that can adapt automatically to he various track widths used in Europe.
Success will allow Ukrzaliznytsia to carry out cross-border rail transport all across Europe without any complications. In most parts of Europe the track width is usually 1,435 mm. The standard track width in Ukraine is 1,520 mm, however, and in Spain it is 1,668 mm.
Adif and Ukrzaliznytsia are currently drawing up a plan that will include schemes for further action. A consortium of Spanish companies will be used to implement the project. The group is also expected to raise the funds to finance the project.