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Ukrzaliznytsia

Company type	joint-stock company
Industry	Railway transportation, Railway infrastructure, intermodal freight transport
Founded	1991
Headquarters	5 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]
Products	Rail transport services (passenger & cargo)
Revenue	₴20.06 billion (2017)[3]
Net income	₴203.8 million (2018)[4]
Owner	Ukraine (100%)
Number of employees	191,700 (2023)
Parent	Ministry of Infrastructure
Divisions	6 branches (Kyiv, Donetsk, Lviv, Odesa, Kharkiv, Dnipro)
Website	Official website

Ukrainian Railways or Ukrzaliznytsia (UZ) (Ukrainian: Укрзалізниця) 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]

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]

In 2008 the Ukrainian State Railways transported around 498.5 million tonnes of domestic freight and 69.8 million tonnes of international freight through Ukrainian territory. Freight transport figures were particularly high on transport Routes 3, 5 and 9, which saw a combined total of 105 million tonnes carried in 2008. Further, Ukrzaliznytsia served around 518.8 million passengers over the course of the year. The state railways ran with an annual consolidated budget of a little more than ₴40 billion (US$5 billion) in 2008.^{[citation needed]}

By the end of 2005 the railways had produced a profit equivalent to ₴1.76 billion (US$220 million) from all their operations including freight, passenger service, associated services and the operation of subsidiaries. The total capital invested in fixed assets of the State Railways is thought to be equivalent to around ₴22 billion (US$4.4 billion). However, depreciation of these fixed assets is estimated to be around 57%, or in terms of rolling stock, closer to 66.7%.^{[citation needed]}

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]

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]}

The territorial railways are further divided into several territorial administrations, usually four or five. Such division helps in the assignment of commuter railway lines depending on location.^{[citation needed]}

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]}

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.^[15]

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.^[16] 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.^[15]

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

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.^[20] The first two trains would be delivered in February 2012, two more in April and another two in May, when they will start operating.^{[21][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.^{[22][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).^[23] Due to the 2014 Russian invasion of Ukraine Transmashholding was put on a sanctions list.^[24]

Because of the Russo-Ukrainian War, some factories that were producing locomotives and railcars were lost, such as Luhanskteplovoz (Luhansk Diesel Locomotive) and Stakhanov Railcar Engineering. Also because of the war debuted services were disrupted in January 2022, at the beginning of the war in February 2022, and it also has been widely reported some foreigners who were studying, working who were living Ukraine were denied service to leave the country, and stations that are used as bomb shelters.^{[citation needed]}

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.^[25]

Image	Class	Type	Number	Manufacturer	Constructed	Notes
	2EL4	3 KV DC electric locomotive	6	Luhanskteplovoz	2009-2013	DC version of 2EL5
	2EL5	25 kV AC electric locomotive	20	Luhanskteplovoz	2005-	AC version of 2EL4
	2ES5K	25 kV AC electric locomotive	15	Novocherkassk Electric Locomotive Plant	2004
	ChS2	3 kV DC electric locomotive	111	Škoda Works	1958-1976
	ChS4	25kV AC electric locomotive	150	Škoda Works	1963-1972
	ChS7	3 kV DC electric locomotive	27	Škoda Works	1983-1989
	ChS8	25 kV AC electric locomotive	36	Škoda Works	1983–89
	DE1	3 kV DC electric locomotive	40	NPO DEVZ	1997–2008
	DS3	25 kV AC electric locomotive	16	GP NPK	2003–08
	VL8	3 kV DC electric locomotive	~200	Novocherkassk Electric Locomotive Plant	1953–67	Several destroyed in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine[26]
	VL10	3 kV DC electric locomotive	~240	Novocherkassk Electric Locomotive Plant	1961–1989
	VL11	3 kV DC electric locomotive	112	Tbilisi electric locomotive builder plant	1975-1978
	VL40U	25 kV AC electric locomotive	6	Zaporizhzhia Electric Locomotive Plant	2004	Double ended, single unit version of VL80
	VL60	25 kV AC electric locomotive		Novocherkassk Electric Locomotive Plant	1957-1967
	VL80	25 kV AC electric locomotive		Novocherkassk Electric Locomotive Plant	1961-1995
	VL82	3 kV DC + 25 kV AC electric locomotive		Novocherkassk Electric Locomotive Plant	1966-1979	Dual voltage version of VL80
	2TE116	Diesel-electric locomotive		Luhanskteplovoz	1971-2015	Twin units, sometimes operated as single units
	2ТЕ121	Diesel-electric locomotive	76	Luhanskteplovoz	1978-1992
	M62	Diesel-electric locomotive		Luhanskteplovoz	1965-1990
	2M62	Diesel-electric locomotive		Luhanskteplovoz	1976-1990	Twin unit version of M62
	TEP70	Diesel-electric locomotive		Kolomna Locomotive Works	1973
	TEP150	Diesel-electric locomotive	4	Luhanskteplovoz	2005
	TE33A	Diesel-electric locomotive	70	General Electric Transportation/JSC Lokomotiv	2019-
	ChME3	Diesel-electric shunting locomotive		ČKD	1963-1994
	TEM2	Diesel-electric shunting locomotive		Bryansk and Luhansk Locomotive Works	1967–1987
	TEM18	Diesel-electric shunting locomotive		Bryansk and Luhansk Locomotive Works	1992-
	TEM103	Diesel-electric shunting locomotive	1	Electrotyazhmash	2005
	TGK2	Diesel-hydraulic shunting locomotive		Kaluga Machine Building Plant	1960-2008	Preserved example pictured
	TGM4B	Diesel-hydraulic shunting locomotive		Lyudinovsky Locomotive Plant	1971-1989
	TGM6	Diesel-hydraulic shunting locomotive		Lyudinovsky Diesel Locomotive Plant	1966-
	TGM23	Diesel-hydraulic shunting locomotive		Murom Diesel Locomotive Plant	1960-
	TU2	Diesel-electric locomotive	6	Kaluga Machine Building Plant	1955-1959	750 mm gauge. Used on narrow gauge lines.
	TU7	Diesel-hydraulic locomotive	1	Kambarka Engineering Works	1971	750 mm gauge. Used on Antonivka narrow gauge line.
	ER	Steam locomotive	2	Zegelsky Locomotive Works/Reșița Works	1951	Used for tourist excursion services
	L	Steam locomotive	1	Luhanskteplovoz	1953	Used for tourist excursion services
	SU	Steam locomotive	1	Krasnoye Sormovo Factory	1949	Used for tourist excursion services
	GR	Steam locomotive	1	Lokomotivbau Karl Marx Babelsberg	1951	750 mm gauge. Used for tourist services on Antonivka narrow gauge line.

Image	Class	Type	Number	Manufacturer	Constructed	Service
	Hyundai Rotem HRCS2	3kV DC/25 kV AC electric multiple unit	10	Hyundai Rotem	2011–2012	Intercity+
	EKr-1	3kV DC/25 kV AC electric multiple unit	2	Kryukiv Carriage Works	2011–2012	Intercity+
	Skoda EJ 675	3 kV DC/25 kV AC electric multiple unit	2	Škoda Transportation	2011–2012	Intercity+
	ED2T	3 kV DC electric multiple unit	3	Demikhovo	1998	Regional
	ED4M	3 kV DC electric multiple unit	1	Demikhovo	2011	Regional
	EPL2T	3 kV DC electric multiple unit	63	Luhanskteplovoz	2000-2008	Suburban
	EPL9T	25 kV AC electric multiple unit	77	Luhanskteplovoz	2001-2008	Suburban
	ER1	3 kV DC electric multiple unit		Rīgas Vagonbūves Rūpnīca	1957-1962	Suburban / Regional
	ER2	3 kV DC electric multiple unit	250+	Rīgas Vagonbūves Rūpnīca	1987-1996, 2000, 2003	Suburban / Regional
	ER9	25 kV AC electric multiple unit		Rīgas Vagonbūves Rūpnīca	1962-1964	Suburban / Regional
	ET2	3 kV DC electric multiple unit	1	Kryukiv Carriage Works	1995	Pivdena Railway
	D1	Diesel multiple unit	40+	Ganz Works	1964-1988	Suburban / Regional
	DR1	Diesel multiple unit		Rīgas Vagonbūves Rūpnīca	1963-2011	Suburban / Regional
	DEL-02	Diesel multiple unit	6	Luhanskteplovoz	2003-2012	Regional
	DPKr-2	Diesel multiple unit	1	Kryukiv Railway Car Building Works	2014	Regional
	DPKr-3	Diesel multiple unit	6[27]	Kryukiv Railway Car Building Works	2019, 2021	Regional
	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
	DPL2	Diesel train	6	Luhanskteplovoz	2001–2002	Regional. Formed by half a 2TE116 twin diesel locomotive and 4 carriages in fixed formation
	RA2	Diesel multiple unit	1	Metrowagonmash	2007	Regional
	Pesa 610m	Diesel multiple unit	1	Pesa Bydgoszcz	2004	Track inspection Used as a mobile command center following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[28]
	Pesa 620m	Diesel multiple unit	11	Pesa Bydgoszcz	2004–2013	Regional / Kyiv Boryspil Express
	Pesa 630m	Diesel multiple unit	2	Pesa Bydgoszcz	2013	Regional
	АS1А	Diesel railcar		Velykyluk Locomotive Repair Plant	1964-1980	Maintenance and track inspection
	AChO	Diesel railcar	1	Škoda Transportation	1977-1978	Track inspection. A second unit is stored.

The draft state budget for 2021 includes the purchasing of 100 new passenger cars from the Kryukiv Railway Car Building Works.^[29] In 2021 Ukrzaliznytsia will also launch its first disabled-friendly trains with dedicated wheelchair space.^[30]

In 2018 Ukrainian Railways purchased 30 General Electric TE33AC Trident freight diesel locomotives.^[31] 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.^[32] 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.^[33]

Following the appointment of Volodymyr Zhmak as CEO, ₴400 million was reallocated within the company for urgent locomotive repairs until the end of 2020.^[34] 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.^[35]

In 2021, ₴4.7 billion is planned to be spent on repairing the existing locomotive fleet.^[34]

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.^[36] The purchase of Alstom locomotives would be financed by the French government.^[37]

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)^[38]
• 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]

Railway lines are classified into commuter, regional, Intercity and EuroCity. Daytime trains are also distinguished into a separate class from those that run at night. Intercity lines are coded with single, double and triple digits, while commuter lines are coded with quadruple digits.^{[citation needed]}

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.^[39]

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:
  • Euro City (EC) – Express (min. 90 km/h) daytime services on international routes which should offer a very high level of service and comfort. First and standard classes.
  • Inter City+ (IC+) – Express (min. 90 km/h) daytime services on domestic routes which should offer a very high level of service and comfort. First and standard classes. These services are currently operated by Hyundai Rotem HRCS2 multiple unit trains on routes between Kyiv and Kharkiv, Lviv, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Pokrovsk, Kryvyi Rih, Kostiantynivka, Odesa, Ternopil, Kropyvnytskyi. Besides, there is one international express Kyiv - Przemyśl (Poland).^[40]
  • Inter City (IC) – (max. 70 km/h – 90 km/h) daytime services on domestic routes which should offer a heightened level of service and comfort. First, standard and economy classes. These services are currently operated by Škoda UZ class 675 trains on routes between Kharkiv, Dnipro and Donetsk.^{[needs update]}
  • Regional Express (РЕ) – (max. 70 km/h – 90 km/h) daytime services on domestic routes which should offer a standard level of service and comfort. First, standard and economy classes.
  • Regional train (РП) – (max. 70 km/h) daytime services on domestic routes which should offer a standard level of service and comfort. Standard and economy classes.
• 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]}

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]}

• 1991–1993 Borys Oliynyk

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)

• 2015–2016 Oleksandr Zavhorodniy (acting)
• 2016–2016 Yevhen Kravtsov (acting)
• 2016–2016 Vitaliy Zhurakovskyi (acting)
• 2016–2017 Wojciech Balczun^[41][42]
• 2017–2020 Yevhen Kravtsov (acting)^[42][43]
• 2020 Marček Zhelko (acting)^[43][44]
• 2020 Ivan Yuryk (acting)^[44]
• 2020–2021 Volodymyr Zhmak^[45]
• 2021–2023 Oleksandr Kamyshin^[46][47]
• 2023–incumbent Yevhen Liashchenko^[48]

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

• Rail transport in Ukraine
• Transport in Ukraine
• Railway electrification system

• EC (11 July 2023). "Strategy for the EU integration of the Ukrainian and Moldovan rail systems". transport.ec.europa.eu. European Commission. Retrieved 7 January 2024.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ukrzaliznytsia.

• Official website
• "Online ticket purchases". booking.uz.gov.ua.