UKRAINE: Standard gauge trains from the EU can now run directly to the city of Uzhhorod, following the opening of a 1 435 mm gauge track from Chop near the Slovakian and Hungarian borders. This was the previous break between standard gauge and Ukraine’s 1 520 mm broad gauge.
The track was officially opened on September 5 in the presence of President Zelenskyy. Passenger services are scheduled to start on September 12, running from Uzhhorod to Wien, Budapest and Bratislava.
The December timetable change will see connections provided with domestic services, including night trains from Kyiv.
Standard gauge line
The project involved the construction of 22 km of 1 435 mm gauge track parallel to the existing broad gauge line and almost 2 km of four-rail interlaced track.
It also included modernisation of the signalling, communications and control systems to increase capacity and improve safety.
The work was undertaken by national railway Ukrzaliznytsia. Half of the €28·6m cost was covered by a grant from the EU’s Connecting Europe Facility, and half by a loan from the European Investment Bank guaranteed under the Ukraine Facility.
A step towards EU integration
The EIB said completion means passenger journey times will be reduced, making rail more competitive. The line will also help to increase the volume of freight transported by rail by providing more efficient and seamless services.
The opening ‘is a historic step towards EU integration’, said EIB Vice-President Teresa Czerwińska. ‘Especially in wartime, when railways serve as a vital lifeline for Ukraine’s economy and people, strengthening these transport links is more important than ever.’
Magda Kopczyńska, Director-General for Mobility & Transport at the European Commission, said ‘we have removed a key break of gauge at the EU border, enabling direct connections with neighbouring member states. It is a clear example of how the EU is working with Ukraine to build the infrastructure that will underpin its future inside the European family.’
Future plans
EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarína Mathernová said ‘this joint project with Ukrzaliznytsia shows how the concrete results can be achieved even in the most difficult times. It is a first, but very significant step towards fully integrating Ukraine’s railways with the European network, and towards Ukraine’s future inside the European family.’
Further plans include the construction of a standard gauge track between Mostyska near the Polish border and Lviv, as well as the renovation of the existing (Poland –) Lyuboml – Kovel, Uzhhorod – Pavlove and Borzhava – Vynohradiv – Dilove standard gauge lines.
The broad gauge Uzhhorod – Syanky – Lviv and Lviv – Chernivtsi – Vadul-Siret routes are to be double-tracked.
However, Ukrzaliznytsia Chairman Oleksandr Pertsovskyi said building a standard gauge railway across Ukraine would be prohibitively expensive and freight services would not be profitable.
