KYIV. July 1 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The State Railway Administration of Ukraine (Ukrzaliznytsia) has prepared its grain carriers and freight stations for shipments of grain of the new harvest and is ready to ship at least 3 million tonnes of grain and grain cargo every month, the press service of Ukrzaliznytsia has reported.
The press service said that in January-May 2015, a total of 166,000 grain carriers were loaded and they shipped 10.7 million tonnes of grain, and loading grew by 14.6% from a year ago.
“In 2015, railways expanded the working grain carrier fleet, cut the turnover of vacant and loaded wagons, and increased the volume of grain shipments using direct routes. It is planned to bring the shipment of grain with direct loading on vessels to 46%,” reads the report.
The administration said that available grain carriers are enough to ensure all the needs in transporting grain.
“The only problem that creates a shortage of rolling stock is the absence of the loading plans from grain traders. From year to year difficulties with planning of exports [are] repeated: there are almost no applications at the beginning of the month and too many applications in the second half of the month, and loading on holidays and weekends is not rhythmic,” Ukrzaliznytsia said.
The equipment of elevators also reduces the efficient use of rolling stock. At some elevators, grain is loaded from trucks, and delays appear also occur due to bad weather and the unsatisfactory state of roads.
Ukrzaliznytsia operates a grain carrier fleet of 11,700 wagons. Private companies have 1,900 more grain carriers. This is enough to ship around 40 million tonnes of grain every year.
