Ukrainian Railways and LTG will form an independent railway operation system on the 1520 mm network

The parties agreed on the implementation of the joint project «FREE Rail Operating Model»

Ukrainian Railwaus (UZ) and Lithuanian railwaymen plan to create an independent railway operation system on the 1520 mm network. It is stated in the press release of UZ.

The agreement was reached through the Transport logistic 2023 exhibition in Munich. Ukrainian railway workers held a number of meetings with international partners and signed memorandums of understanding and cooperation with the group of companies of Lithuanian Railways LTG, LTG Cargo, as well as with the Polish company Laude Smart Intermodal SA.

Ukrainian and Lithuanian railway workers agreed on the implementation of the joint project «FREE Rail Operating Model».

“Its purpose is to strengthen relations in the field of railway transport, to increase the carrying capacity and interoperability of the transport infrastructure in accordance with the constantly growing flows of cargo and passenger transport passing through Lithuania and Ukraine,” the press release states.

As part of the project, the parties plan to form a single, fully independent system of railway operation on the 1520 mm network in terms of technical standards, IT systems, regulations or any kind of certification of the Railway Transport Council.

“Also, the development of alternative transport corridors between the ports of the Baltic Sea and Ukraine, bypassing Russia and Belarus, and the further reduction of dependence on Russian and Belarusian transit cargo flows”  the message says.

Regarding the memorandum signed with Laude Smart Intermodal SA, the parties, among other things, agreed on such areas of cooperation as railway wagon management, optimization of the railcar fleet and its services, improvement of railway logistics solutions, digitalization of transport processes.

As GMK Center reported earlier, in March 2023 Ukrainian Railways announced the launch of additional border crossing between Ukraine and Moldova – Berezyne-Basarabiaska (Serpneve-1-Basarabiaska). The border crossing gives shippers the opportunity to transport export or transit cargo in the direction of the ports of Reni, Galaţi and Giurgiulesti on a much shorter route.

Also, in April 2023, UZ transported for export 4.903 million tons of cargo, which is 7.5% less compared to the previous month, and 25.6% more compared to the same period of 2022. In January-April 2023, the railway operator transported up to 20.44 million tons of cargo for export.