Ukrainian Railways to receive about €43 million from the EU for European gauge development projects

The total project budget is €85.91 million

The EU will allocate almost €43 million to Ukrainian Railways JSC (UZ) for the implementation of European integration projects. This is stated in the message of UZ.

Within the framework of the EU program “Connecting Europe Facility” (CEF), a project to integrate Ukraine’s railway system into the bloc’s transport system has been agreed. The program’s Steering Committee approved the project application on July 16 this year.

The project envisages the improvement of the Ukrainian railway network and the development of a 1435 mm gauge to ensure technological compatibility and increase the capacity of the railway infrastructure. Its total budget is €85.91 million, and CEF will provide €42.95 million to UZ.

As UZ reported, the application plans to implement:

• designing the reconstruction of railway facilities with the introduction of a 1435 mm gauge on the Chop-Lviv section;
• designing the reconstruction of railway facilities with the construction of a 1435 mm gauge and electrification on the Lviv-Chernivtsi-Vadul-Siret-state border section;
• development of a strategy for the reconstruction of the Lviv railway junction, taking into account the prospects for expanding the 1435 mm gauge railway network of the TEN-T network in Ukraine;
• design and construction of a 1435 mm gauge with electrification on the Pavlove-2/Matyovtse-Uzhhorod section;
• electrification of the 1435 mm gauge on the Chop-Uzhhorod section.

In addition, the costs of conducting an examination of the compliance of these projects, as well as the Kovel-Yahodyn – state border and Medyka/Mostyska II – Lviv (Sknyliv) sections with TSI requirements, are envisaged.

According to Yevhen Liashchenko, Chairman of the Board of Ukrainian Railways JSC, the CEF has been allocating funds for the implementation of strategic infrastructure projects for the second year in a row, which will be used to build the European gauge in Ukraine. This will allow the country to open new passenger routes and increase transit potential.

As GMK Center reported earlier, in 2024, Ukrainian Railways plans to repair almost 1.2 thousand kilometers of railroad tracks. Overhauls will be carried out on 386 km of tracks, and 810 km of tracks will be renewed with medium repairs.