UZ proposes creating a budget carrier between Ukraine and the EU for $441 million

JSC "Ukrzaliznytsia" proposed creating a joint budget railway carrier with investors between Ukraine and the EU. The project envisions purchasing trains with European gauge, investing in equity capital for $441 million, and launching passenger service in about four years.

As reported by Dilo, the information comes from the Karpatian Summit press service of S8 JSC.

Budget trains from Ukraine to the EU

The project envisages purchasing modern European-gauge trains that will run between Ukrainian and European cities.

At the first stage, transportation is planned to be organized from Uzhhorod, Lviv, and Kovel to Budapest, Bratislava, Warsaw, Vienna, and Berlin. In the long term, the carrier is to expand to Central and Eastern Europe.

Estimated project cost is about $441 million. The initiative is currently in the stage of in-depth preparation, with launch planned in about four years.

Rail and road carriers from Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania may also participate in the realization of the project.

As a reminder, the European Union is interested in expanding the European rail network into Ukraine. Priority directions for Euro-gauge construction are Lviv, Kyiv, and Odesa, enabling unobstructed logistics routes from Poland and the Czech Republic.