UKRAINE: National railway Ukrzaliznytsia has taken delivery of six platskartny open-plan couchette cars, which Deputy Minister for Development of Communities & Territories Oleksii Balesta said were the first of this type to be purchased since independence.
Fully financed from the state budget, the 58-berth coaches were produced by Kryukovsky Railway Car Building Works, with more than 150 domestic companies supplying components and parts. They form part of a larger order for 66 passenger vehicles of various types, of which 38 have now been delivered.
‘The state supports the modernisation of the railway, and this area will remain one of the priorities in the coming years’, Balesta explained. He felt that the ’thoughtfully-designed’ modern coaches would offer comfortable and affordable travel over long distances on socially significant routes.
The air-conditioned vehicles are designed to offer greater comfort, safety and accessibility than older designs, with more padding, a more ergonomic design of steps for easier access to the upper berths, mini-partitions between the berths and the aisle for more privacy, USB sockets, individual lamps with three modes and space under the lower berths for storing oversized luggage including military backpacks.
There are retention toilets, changing tables and a play area for children. Berth numbers are labelled in Braille.
The platskartny cars are being deployed on services from Lviv to Kharkiv and Kramatorsk.
