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Ukrainian Railways

State-owned railway company in Ukraine From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ukrainian Railways
This article is about the Ukrainian railway company. For an overview of rail transport in Ukraine, see Rail transport in Ukraine.

The Public JSC Ukrainian Railways or PAT 'Ukrzaliznytsia (UZ)' (Ukrainian: ПАТ "Укрзалізниця (УЗ)") is a state-owned joint-stock company administering railway infrastructure and rail transport in Ukraine; a monopoly that controls the vast majority of the railroad transportation in the country.[a] Ukrainian Railways is the world's sixth largest rail passenger transporter and world's seventh largest freight transporter. As of 2020, the total length of the main broad-gauge (1,520 mm (4 ft 11+27⁄32 in)) railroad network was 19,787 kilometres (12,295 mi),[5] making it the 13th largest in the world. Ukraine also has many stretches of standard-gauge railway (1,435 mm), and is currently working to expand these in order to improve its connections to the European Union.[6]

Quick Facts Company type, Industry ...
PAT 'Ukrzaliznytsia'
ПАТ "Укрзалізниця (УЗ)"
Company typePublic joint-stock company
IndustryRailway transportation,
Railway infrastructure,
intermodal freight transport
Founded1991
Headquarters5 Jerzy Giedroyc Street [uk], Kyiv, Ukraine, 03680 [1]
Number of locations
1,700 stations and halts
Area served
Ukraine
Key people
Oleksandr Pertsovskyi (CEO) [2]
ProductsRail transport services (passenger & cargo)
Revenue ₴20.06 billion (2017)[3]
₴203.8 million (2018)[4]
OwnerGovernment of Ukraine (100%)
Number of employees
191,700 (2023)
ParentMinistry of Infrastructure
Divisions6 branches (Kyiv, Donetsk, Lviv, Odesa, Kharkiv, Dnipro)
WebsiteOfficial website
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In 2015, Ukrainian Railways was transformed through a merger of a state agency and a state-owned enterprise into a public joint stock company owned by the state. Ukraine's State Administration of Railroad Transportation is subordinated to the Ministry of Infrastructure,[b] administering the railways through the six territorial railway companies that immediately control and provide of all aspects of the railroad transportation and maintenance under the common Ukrzaliznytsia brand. The general director of the administration is appointed by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.[7] The company employs more than 191,700 people throughout the country.[8]

During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ukrainian Railways continued operating to evacuate and rescue millions of people from cities out of the country. The rail links between Ukraine and Russia have been blown up by the Armed Forces of Ukraine to prevent their use by Russians, but the railways have continued operating within Ukraine and between Ukraine and Poland, Hungary, Republic of Moldova, and Slovakia. One long-abandoned cross-border rail link with Poland was quickly reconstructed, and others which had been used only for freight have been quickly opened for passenger use.[9] The rail service has evacuated[10] over two million people from Ukraine on special evacuation trains. After some of the Black Sea ports became unavailable for grain export, rail became an export route to the rest of Europe. Several rail sections in the North and South became unusable.[11]

Company structure

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Perspective

Financial history

In 2017, Ukrainian Railways (Ukrzaliznytsia) was the fourth-most profitable company in Ukraine with a revenue of ₴74 billion.[12]

In 2019, Ukrainian Railways confirmed intention to issue new Eurobond. Ukrainian Railways had the potential to increase its debt by US$1 billion, indicating a possible Eurobond issue. Recall, Ukrainian Railway's existing US$500 million Eurobond will be amortized by US$150M both in March and September 2019 and then by US$50 million semi-annually between March 2020 and September 2021. He also confirmed that Ukrainian Railway is now considering a Eurobond issue, on which he can further comment as soon as the government publishes a respective resolution (on its parameters). Kravtsov also highlighted that it's important for investors to have a clear understanding on how the borrowing will be serviced. Taking this into account, Ukrainian Railways has proposed a mechanism of automatic adjustment of freight railway rates based on Ukraine's producer price index.[13]

Administrative structure

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Subdivisions of Ukrainian Railways

The railways are split into six territorial railway companies: Donetsk, Lviv, Odesa, Southern, South-Western and Cisdnieper. The subdivision is purely administrative as it doesn't correspond to the particular railway lines or branches. The names of regional railways are purely historic, inherited from the Russian and Austro-Hungarian Empires (for instance the 'South-Western Railway' actually operates the north-central part of Ukraine's rail network, while the 'Southern Railway' actually operates in the east of the country).[14]

The six separate territorial railways each have their own directorates, located in the following cities:[citation needed]

  1. Donetsk Railway – Lyman (temporary directorate, as Donetsk is controlled by the Russian military)
  2. Lviv Railway – Lviv
  3. Odesa Railway – Odesa
  4. Southern Railway – Kharkiv
  5. Southwestern Railway – Kyiv
  6. Cisdnieper Railway – Dnipro

Since 2014, the Cisdnieper Division of Crimean Railways is no longer under Ukrainian control.[citation needed]

In February 2025, the Commission of the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory Noted that "Southwestern" and "Southern Railways" names are propaganda for Russian imperial policy and violate the law.[15][16]

Company reform

Ukrainian Railways suffer from a variety of issues mostly inherited from Soviet times. The reforms aim to address these issues in order to improve quality of service, transparency and governance.[citation needed]

Enactment of the law "On Railway Transport of Ukraine"

The law seeks to harmonize Ukrainian rail-related legislation with European Union law. It sets out the basic requirements, responsibilities and rights of the infrastructure operator, the carrier and the owners of access tracks, rules for infrastructure management, basic requirements for railway rolling stock, and basic activities of railway rolling stock operators. The bill also provides for the creation of a system of public administration in the field of railway safety in accordance with the requirements of European Union legislation, the implementation of which is provided by the Association Agreement, which will increase transport safety in conditions of competition in the railway market. According to the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine, the law, supported by European experts, serves as a starting point for real reforms in the industry.[17]

Structural reform of Ukrainian Railways JSC

The company is to be separated into verticals in accordance with modern practices. This involves the creation of separate freight, passenger, production and infrastructure operators within Ukrainian Railways by the end of 2021.[18] According to the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine, the project will ensure the transparency of financial flows within the company, and improve the quality of management of each activity. This will allow Ukrainian Railways to prepare for the emergence of private competitors in the railway market.[17]

Subsidiaries and partners

Main article: Rail transport in Ukraine § Rail and train companies

Ukrainian Railways owns or cooperates with several rail and train companies.

Infrastructure

This section is an excerpt from Rail transport in Ukraine § Infrastructure.[edit]

Railways in Ukraine use various gauge types. The broad gauge (1,520 mm), a legacy of Imperial Russian and Soviet times, dominates the landscape, and narrow-gauge railways (750 mm) also exist, but plans are being made to construct, restore or switch to more standard-gauge railways (1,435 mm) for better train connections with the rest of Europe.[19] About half of railways in Ukraine are electrified (some of which have been damaged during the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War and temporarily switched to diesel trains).[20]

The total length of Ukrainian rails of all gauges was 28,000 kilometres at the end of 1997.[21] Around January 2022, the length of railways in Ukraine was 19,790 km in broad-gauge 1520 mm (excluding those located in temporarily occupied territory), about 350 km in standard-gauge 1435 mm, and about 400 km in narrow gauge 750 mm.

[21]

Rolling stock

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Ukrainian-made electric DS3 locomotive
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Ukrainian-made DPKr-3 Diesel Multiple Unit

Ukrzaliznytsia has several repair factories capable of producing locomotives and railcars. In addition there is a separate Kryukiv Railcar Engineering Factory and Dnieper Railcar Engineering that also produce railroad rolling stock for Ukrzaliznytsia and other companies for public transportation.

In November 2010, UZ agreed to buy 10 high-speed HRCS2 multiple unit interurban trainsets from Hyundai Rotem, with the prospect of a much larger order or joint venture for local production.[22] The first two trains would be delivered in February 2012, two more in April and another two in May, when they will start operating.[23][needs update] They will be rated as Inter City+ and will be connecting Kyiv with Kharkiv, Donetsk and Lviv, and at a later stage with Dnipro and Odesa.[24][needs update]

In July 2011 UZ announced plans to buy 433 electric freight locomotives; 292 2EL4s from Transmashholding, and 141 locomotives (including class VL11M/6) from Elmavalmshenebeli (Tbilisi).[25] Due to the 2014 Russian invasion of Ukraine Transmashholding was put on a sanctions list.[26]

In December 2017, UZ and GE Transportation agreed a to strategic partnership for the implementation of a 7-year rolling stock renewal program including the delivery of 30 locomotives to Ukrzaliznytsia in September 2018 with 40% manufactured in Ukraine.[27]

Locomotives

More information Image, Class ...
Image Class Type Number Manufacturer Constructed Notes
Thumb 2EL4 3 KV DC electric locomotive 6 Luhanskteplovoz 2009-2013 DC version of 2EL5
Thumb 2EL5 25 kV AC electric locomotive 20 Luhanskteplovoz 2005- AC version of 2EL4
Thumb 2ES5K 25 kV AC electric locomotive 15 Novocherkassk Electric Locomotive Plant 2004
Thumb ChS2 3 kV DC electric locomotive 111 Škoda Works 1958-1976
Thumb ChS4 25kV AC electric locomotive 150 Škoda Works 1963-1972
Thumb ChS7 3 kV DC electric locomotive 27 Škoda Works 1983-1989
Thumb ChS8 25 kV AC electric locomotive 36 Škoda Works 1983–89
Thumb DE1 3 kV DC electric locomotive 40 NPO DEVZ 1997–2008
Thumb DS3 25 kV AC electric locomotive 16 GP NPK 2003–08
Thumb VL8 3 kV DC electric locomotive ~200 Novocherkassk Electric Locomotive Plant 1953–67 Several destroyed in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine[28]
Thumb VL10 3 kV DC electric locomotive ~240 Novocherkassk Electric Locomotive Plant 1961–1989
Thumb VL11 3 kV DC electric locomotive 112 Tbilisi electric locomotive builder plant 1975-1978
Thumb VL40U 25 kV AC electric locomotive 6 Zaporizhzhia Electric Locomotive Plant 2004 Double ended, single unit version of VL80
Thumb VL60 25 kV AC electric locomotive Novocherkassk Electric Locomotive Plant 1957-1967
Thumb VL80 25 kV AC electric locomotive Novocherkassk Electric Locomotive Plant 1961-1995
Thumb VL82 3 kV DC + 25 kV AC electric locomotive Novocherkassk Electric Locomotive Plant 1966-1979 Dual voltage version of VL80
Thumb 2TE116 Diesel-electric locomotive Luhanskteplovoz 1971-2015 Twin units, sometimes operated as single units
Thumb 2ТЕ121 Diesel-electric locomotive 76 Luhanskteplovoz 1978-1992
Thumb M62 Diesel-electric locomotive Luhanskteplovoz 1965-1990
Thumb 2M62 Diesel-electric locomotive Luhanskteplovoz 1976-1990 Twin unit version of M62
Thumb TEP70 Diesel-electric locomotive Kolomna Locomotive Works 1973
Thumb TEP150 Diesel-electric locomotive 4 Luhanskteplovoz 2005
Thumb TE33A Diesel-electric locomotive 70 General Electric Transportation/JSC Lokomotiv 2019-
Thumb ChME3 Diesel-electric shunting locomotive ČKD 1963-1994
Thumb TEM2 Diesel-electric shunting locomotive Bryansk and Luhansk Locomotive Works 1967–1987
Thumb TEM18 Diesel-electric shunting locomotive Bryansk and Luhansk Locomotive Works 1992-
Thumb TEM103 Diesel-electric shunting locomotive 1 Electrotyazhmash 2005
Thumb TGK2 Diesel-hydraulic shunting locomotive Kaluga Machine Building Plant 1960-2008 Preserved example pictured
Thumb TGM4B Diesel-hydraulic shunting locomotive Lyudinovsky Locomotive Plant 1971-1989
Thumb TGM6 Diesel-hydraulic shunting locomotive Lyudinovsky Diesel Locomotive Plant 1966-
Thumb TGM23 Diesel-hydraulic shunting locomotive Murom Diesel Locomotive Plant 1960-
Thumb TU2 Diesel-electric locomotive 6 Kaluga Machine Building Plant 1955-1959 750 mm gauge. Used on narrow gauge lines.
Thumb TU7 Diesel-hydraulic locomotive 1 Kambarka Engineering Works 1971 750 mm gauge. Used on Antonivka narrow gauge line.
Thumb ER Steam locomotive 2 Zegelsky Locomotive Works/Reșița Works 1951 Used for tourist excursion services
Thumb L Steam locomotive 1 Luhanskteplovoz 1953 Used for tourist excursion services
Thumb SU Steam locomotive 1 Krasnoye Sormovo Factory 1949 Used for tourist excursion services
Thumb GR Steam locomotive 1 Lokomotivbau Karl Marx Babelsberg 1951 750 mm gauge. Used for tourist services on Antonivka narrow gauge line.
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Multiple units, railcars and diesel trains

More information Image, Class ...
Image Class Type Number Manufacturer Constructed Service
Thumb Hyundai Rotem HRCS2 3kV DC/25 kV AC electric multiple unit 10 Hyundai Rotem 2011–2012 Intercity+
Thumb EKr-1 3kV DC/25 kV AC electric multiple unit 2 Kryukiv Carriage Works 2011–2012 Intercity+
Thumb Skoda EJ 675 3 kV DC/25 kV AC electric multiple unit 2 Škoda Transportation 2011–2012 Intercity+
Thumb ED2T 3 kV DC electric multiple unit 3 Demikhovo 1998 Regional
Thumb ED4M 3 kV DC electric multiple unit 1 Demikhovo 2011 Regional
Thumb EPL2T 3 kV DC electric multiple unit 63 Luhanskteplovoz 2000-2008 Suburban
Thumb EPL9T 25 kV AC electric multiple unit 77 Luhanskteplovoz 2001-2008 Suburban
Thumb ER1 3 kV DC electric multiple unit Rīgas Vagonbūves Rūpnīca 1957-1962 Suburban / Regional
Thumb ER2 3 kV DC electric multiple unit 250+ Rīgas Vagonbūves Rūpnīca 1987-1996, 2000, 2003 Suburban / Regional
Thumb ER9 25 kV AC electric multiple unit Rīgas Vagonbūves Rūpnīca 1962-1964 Suburban / Regional
Thumb ET2 3 kV DC electric multiple unit 1 Kryukiv Carriage Works 1995 Pivdena Railway
Thumb D1 Diesel multiple unit 40+ Ganz Works 1964-1988 Suburban / Regional
Thumb DR1 Diesel multiple unit Rīgas Vagonbūves Rūpnīca 1963-2011 Suburban / Regional
Thumb DEL-02 Diesel multiple unit 6 Luhanskteplovoz 2003-2012 Regional
Thumb DPKr-2 Diesel multiple unit 1 Kryukiv Railway Car Building Works 2014 Regional
Thumb DPKr-3 Diesel multiple unit 6[29] Kryukiv Railway Car Building Works 2019, 2021 Regional
Thumb DPL1 Diesel train 6 Luhanskteplovoz 2007 Regional. Formed by half a 2M62 twin diesel locomotive and 2-4 carriages from a EPL2T or EPL9T electric train
Thumb DPL2 Diesel train 6 Luhanskteplovoz 2001–2002 Regional. Formed by half a 2TE116 twin diesel locomotive and 4 carriages in fixed formation
Thumb RA2 Diesel multiple unit 1 Metrowagonmash 2007 Regional
Thumb Pesa 610m Diesel multiple unit 1 Pesa Bydgoszcz 2004 Track inspection
Used as a mobile command center following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[30]
Thumb Pesa 620m Diesel multiple unit 11 Pesa Bydgoszcz 2004–2013 Regional / Kyiv Boryspil Express
Thumb Pesa 630m Diesel multiple unit 2 Pesa Bydgoszcz 2013 Regional
Thumb АS1А Diesel railcar Velykyluk Locomotive Repair Plant 1964-1980 Maintenance and track inspection
Thumb AChO Diesel railcar 1 Škoda Transportation 1977-1978 Track inspection. A second unit is stored.
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Rolling stock renewal

Passenger cars

The draft state budget for 2021 includes the purchasing of 100 new passenger cars from the Kryukiv Railway Car Building Works.[31] In 2021 Ukrzaliznytsia will also launch its first disabled-friendly trains with dedicated wheelchair space.[32]

Locomotives

In 2018 Ukrainian Railways purchased 30 General Electric TE33AC Trident freight diesel locomotives.[33] The 30 locomotives were planned to be the first stage of wider cooperation, including a 15-year partnership, and the replacement and modernization of additional Ukrainian rolling stock.[34] Later in 2020, Ukrainian Railways CEO Volodymyr Zhmak stated that he does not see the need for further GE diesel locomotives, as the company will focus on electric traction due to its higher efficiency.[35]

Following the appointment of Volodymyr Zhmak as CEO, ₴400 million was reallocated within the company for urgent locomotive repairs until the end of 2020.[36] As a part of this measure, the Lviv Locomotive Repair Plant has already received an order for the repair of 6 electric locomotives until the end of 2020.[37]

In 2021, ₴4.7 billion is planned to be spent on repairing the existing locomotive fleet.[36]

As of 2020, Alstom is interested in the renewal of the Ukrainian Railways locomotive fleet through partial localization of production. Volodymyr Zhmak stated that Ukrainian Railways is initially interested in the purchase of 50 two-system electric freight locomotives.[38] The purchase of Alstom locomotives would be financed by the French government.[39]

Statistics

Key figures as of 2020:[5]

  • Main track (1,520 mm) running length: 19,787 km[5]
    • Electrified track: 9,319 km[5]
  • Number of railway stations: 1,402[5]
  • Number of freight (goods) wagons: 85,200[5]
  • Number of passenger cars: 3,883 (in active operation - 2,681)[40]
  • Number of locomotives: 1,944[5]
    • Number of electric locomotives: 1,627[5]
    • Number of diesel locomotives: 301[5]
  • Average number of employees: 266,300 people[5]
  • Passengers carried (2019): 149.6 million[5]
  • Cargo transportation (2019): 312.4 million tonnes[5]

Classification of passenger trains (railway lines)

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Train station in Lviv

On 27 April 2011 in accordance with order No. 504/2011 rail industry specialists developed a new classification system of passenger trains for Ukrainian Railways.[41]

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Chernihiv station building and platforms

The development of a new classification system for passenger trains in Ukraine was made necessary by the need to inform customers (passengers) about the level of service quality they could expect to find in various passenger trains. The new system is based on the class of train and carriages.[citation needed]

Given the quality of the service provided UZ asked the following classes of passenger trains:

  • Daytime passenger lines:
  • Nighttime passenger trains:
    • Euro Night (EN) – Express (min. 90 km/h) nighttime services on international routes which should offer a very high level of service and comfort. 2 berth coupe and 4 berth coupe classes.
    • Night Express (НЕ) (max. 70 km/h – 90 km/h) nighttime services on international and domestic routes which should offer a heightened level of service and comfort. 2 berth coupe, 4 berth coupe and platskarta classes.
    • Night fast (НШ) – (max. 50 km/h – 70 km/h) nighttime services on international and domestic routes which should offer a heightened level of service and comfort. 2 berth coupe, 4 berth coupe and platskarta classes.
    • Night passenger (НП) (max. 50 km/h) nighttime services on international and domestic routes which should offer a heightened level of service and comfort. 4 berth coupe and platskarta classes.[citation needed]

The advantages of the new classification system include full compliance with the classification of the European Union, compliance with Ukrainian and English names and abbreviations, linguistic and semantic consistency and clarity for customers in Ukraine and compatibility with existing and future tariff policy. The system is also not far displaced from the previous classification system used for passenger trains on the territory of Ukraine.[citation needed]

Education

The National Railway University in Dnipro currently has 10 faculties as well as a technical school, a business school and branches in Odesa and Lviv, 450 professors and 39 separate fields of study related to railway transport.[citation needed]

Directors

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Ukrainian Railways' previous logo, used from 1998 to 2018
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Ukrainian Railways' new logo on the train wagon

President

General director
  • 1993–1997 Leonid Zheleznyak
  • 1997–2000 Anatoliy Slobodyan
  • 2000–2004 Heorhiy Kirpa
  • 2005–2005 Volodymyr Korniyenko
  • 2005–2005 Zenko Aftanaziv
  • 2005–2006 Vasyl Hladkikh
  • 2006–2007 Volodymyr Kozak
  • 2007–2007 Petro Naumenko
  • 2007–2008 Vasyl Melnychuk
  • 2008–2011 Mykhailo Kostiuk
  • 2011–2012 Volodymyr Kozak
  • 2013–2014 Serhiy Bolobolin
  • 2014–2014 Borys Ostapyuk
  • 2014–2015 Maksym Blank (acting)
  • 2015–2015 Oleksandr Zavhorodniy (acting)

Board director

o Yuzef Leonidovych Tuley (Authority: to act in the name of the legal entity, including signing of the agreements etc., (until 31 March 2025)) – representative

See also

Notes

  1. Except for intra-company industrial railways, local military railways and municipal Metro systems.
  2. Previously, before December 2010 cabinet reform – to the Ministry of Transportation and Communication.

References

Bibliography

External links

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