Air raid alerts, shelling, and energy restrictions have led to a deterioration in operational performance across the Ukrzaliznytsia network; as a result, the average freight car turnaround time from January through August of this year increased by 32.8% compared to the same period in 2025—to 8.4 days— and in September—by 42.9%, to 12.3 days, according to Valery Tkachov, deputy director of the Department of Transportation Technology and Commercial Operations at JSC “Ukrzaliznytsia.”
“These figures are linked to air raid alerts, traffic restrictions on certain sections, and security factors,” he emphasized at the 8th International Conference on “Production, Operation, and Repair of Rolling Stock” in Kyiv, according to an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent.
According to him, as of now, the turnaround time for a half-car is 14.2 days, whereas in May and June, this figure was improved to 8.8 days from 10.6 days in January.
As for the turnaround time for tank cars, it stands at 19.5 days; for cement cars, 15.1 days; and for grain cars, 22.8 days.
The average technical speed of railcars on the network over the first eight months of this year was 44 km/h, which is 4.3% lower than during the same period last year, and in September it dropped to 41.8 km/h.
The section speed for January–August of this year was 10.9% lower than the corresponding figure for January–August of last year—38.4 km/h—and in September it dropped to 33.6 km/h.
The average train weight for January–August 2026 decreased by 3.3%—to 2,941 metric tons—and in September, it fell to 2,852 metric tons compared to September 2025.
Tkachov noted that the number of alarms increased by 92.5%—to 2,688.
“Ukrzaliznytsia has a clear action plan for how to survive, given that our revenues have fallen significantly, while expenses, unfortunately, remain roughly the same,” added the deputy director of the Department of Transportation Technology and Commercial Operations at JSC “Ukrzaliznytsia.”
He also noted that shippers must submit their transportation plans for November by October 23. Starting next month, “Ukrzaliznytsia” will revert to the plan-approval procedure used in 2022–2023, as the number of loaded railcars on the network heading toward western border crossings has reached nearly 20,000 units.
As previously reported, freight volumes transported by JSC “Ukrzaliznytsia” from January through September 2026 totaled 106.39 million metric tons, which is 11.8% less than during the same period in 2025; in September, the decline reached 38%.
FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION, LOGISTICS, railcar, RAILROAD, UKRZALIZNYTSIA
JSC “Ukrzaliznytsia” announced the launch of new international trains to Poland, including Train No. 31/32 Kyiv–Przemyśl and Train No. 73/74 Dnipro–Przemyśl.
According to a post on the company’s Telegram channel, Train No. 31/32 Kyiv–Przemyśl connects with trains bound for Berlin, Prague, Kraków, Katowice, and Wrocław. It also makes stops in Vinnytsia, Khmelnytskyi, Ternopil, and Lviv.
The train is scheduled to depart from Kyiv at 9:30 p.m. and arrive in Przemyśl at 8:19 a.m.
In early October, Ukrzaliznytsia announced on the social media platform Threads that, starting October 20, trains No. 31/32 Zaporizhzhia–Przemyśl and No. 79/80 “Sicheslav” Dnipro–Lviv were scheduled to be suspended.
At the time, the company noted that passengers on train No. 31/32 would have the option to transfer in Lviv or Kyiv.
As for train No. 73/74 Dnipro–Przemyśl, it will run via Oleksandriia, Kamianske, P’iatykhatky, Znam’ianka, and Lviv.
It will depart from Dnipro at 7:00 p.m. and arrive in Przemyśl at 2:10 p.m.
Ukrzaliznytsia added that at that time, passengers will be able to transfer from Train No. 73/74 (Dnipro–Przemyśl) to trains bound for Kraków, Warsaw, Prague, and Munich.
Among other things, the company noted that the flagship train No. 23/24 Kyiv–Chełm will be named after the renowned Ukrainian historian and head of the Ukrainian Central Rada, Mykhailo Hrushevsky.
It is noted that the train consists of modern, premium-comfort cars built in Ukraine during the full-scale invasion.
“We continue to work on convenient connections in various directions,” the company’s statement reads.
Oleksandr Pertsovskyi, Chairman of the Board of JSC “Ukrzaliznytsia,” announced the implementation of measures in October to reduce personnel costs: the company must save at least 200 million hryvnias per month in payroll expenses; in particular, the management staff will switch to a four-day workweek.
“These steps will not be easy and will affect a significant portion of our staff. This will mean fewer paid working hours and lower earnings. I understand how painful this is for your families, especially as winter approaches. However, without these steps, the railway cannot survive under current conditions,” Pertsovskyi noted in an address on the “UZ” corporate channel.
He emphasized that Ukrzaliznytsia’s priority will remain minimizing the impact of these measures on the operational staff who ensure train operations and perform repairs on the railway infrastructure.
According to him, the implementation of these decisions will primarily affect management bodies—specifically, the central office and regional branches—as well as administrative and engineering staff.
Among other measures is the suspension of bonus payments to administrative staff in the management offices of branches, regional offices, and operational units.
“This is the only way to preserve bonuses for the operational staff—those who work day and night on restoration and repairs and ensure train operations. We appreciate the contribution of administrative staff and understand the importance of their work, but today we are forced to make this choice,” added Pertsovskyi.
At the same time, he mentioned the possibility of offering part-time work in the company’s divisions and branches.
“I can assure you: as soon as the situation begins to stabilize (at least when freight volumes partially recover and the ports reopen), the first thing we will gradually ease is the restrictions on personnel expenses to improve our employees’ situation!” emphasized the chairman of the UZ board.
He noted that meetings with staff will be held in the coming days and weeks to explain these decisions.
In addition, Pertsovskyi announced that a briefing on the current situation and future plans will be held for railway employees at least once a month.
Ukrzaliznytsia explained that these decisions are driven, in particular, by a decline in freight volume to less than 250,000 metric tons per day—down from 450,000 metric tons in July and over 730,000 metric tons prior to Russia’s full-scale aggression.
The situation is further complicated by Russian attacks, which put up to 40 locomotives out of service each month, requiring significant resources for repairs.
In addition, Pertsovskyi pointed out the need to secure “hundreds of millions of hryvnias” to build mobile shelters at the company’s facilities to ensure the safety of its employees.
“Therefore, without optimizing personnel costs—a last resort to which we are resorting—we will not be able to survive!” the chairman of the board concluded.
The Interfax-Ukraine news agency contacted the Ukrzaliznytsia press service for comment to clarify the details of the decision.
cost savings, FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION, STAFF, UKRAINE, UKRZALIZNYTSIA
JSC “Ukrzaliznytsia,” in collaboration with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), has approved amendments to the loan agreement for the “UZ Energy” project, which will allow EUR130 million from the previously approved EUR180 million loan to be allocated to support the company’s liquidity, specifically for infrastructure restoration and ensuring the transportation of passengers and cargo.
“Funds previously earmarked for the distributed generation project can now also be used for critical repairs, infrastructure restoration, and ensuring the transportation of people and cargo,” wrote Mykola Kalashnyk, Ukraine’s Minister of Recovery, Infrastructure, and Transport, on his Telegram channel on Wednesday following a meeting with EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso.
According to him, the ministry is working to ensure that “Ukrzaliznytsia” gains access to the relevant funds as early as the first weeks of October.
Among other things, the project to build a 200-MW gas-fired power plant is continuing thanks to grant support from the EU and the United Kingdom, while “Ukrzaliznytsia” is carrying out the construction work on its own.
The minister also noted that the meeting included discussions on additional funding for the modernization of the locomotive fleet.
According to the ministry, since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, 550 locomotives have been damaged, with more than 335 of them damaged this year.
“Securing resources to replace and restore them is one of our top priorities,” Kalashnik emphasized.
Separately, the Ministry of Infrastructure discussed the development of international highway corridors and investments in roads—specifically, projects the ministry is implementing jointly with the Recovery Agency.
Other topics for discussion included the development of distributed thermal power generation, backup power supplies, and the protection of critical infrastructure.
Issues related to port concessions were also addressed, particularly the preparation of relevant projects; in this context, the ministry is counting on the EBRD’s expertise in drafting these projects and attracting international operators and investors.
“I would like to thank Odile Renaud-Basso and the EBRD team for their support of Ukraine and their willingness to tailor financing to our urgent needs,” added Ukraine’s Minister of Recovery, Infrastructure, and Transport.
JSC “Ukrzaliznytsia” has launched 18 additional Kyiv City Express shuttle trips between the capital’s left and right banks, the company’s press service reported.
“From October 5 to 9, we are scheduling 18 additional Kyiv City Express shuttle trips on the Vydubychi–Darnitsa–Vydubychi route so that you can quickly and without traffic jams get to work, run errands, or return home amid the difficult traffic conditions on Kyiv’s bridges,” the Telegram message states.
As noted, the 18 shuttle trips will run during the morning and evening rush hours: from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. At the Vydubychi station, boarding and alighting will take place on three tracks. At the Darnytsia station, boarding and alighting will take place on one or two tracks (please listen carefully to station announcements). Additional trips will stop at the Bereznyaky station.
“In addition to the KSE shuttle trains, for trips between the right and left banks, you can use scheduled commuter and regional trains running to and from Nizhyn, Hrebinka, Konotop, and Slavutych. They make mandatory stops at the Vydubychi and Darnytsia stations, and commuter trains will also stop at the Bereznyaky station,” added Ukrzaliznytsia.
It is explained that thanks to the combination of additional shuttle services and scheduled trains with Kyiv City Express (KSE) trains, up to six trips will run between the two banks during peak hours, so passengers won’t have to wait long for the next train.
The company noted that tickets are available with just a few clicks in the UZ app.
KYIV, KYIV CITY EXPRESS, RAILROAD, TRANSPORTATION, UKRZALIZNYTSIA
“Ukrzaliznytsia” has added six new passenger cars, manufactured at a Ukrainian plant, to its train fleet, according to a company announcement on Telegram on Saturday.
“As is customary, the new cars are equipped with powerful batteries to ensure maximum autonomy when needed. In the event of a power outage, the batteries will keep the restrooms, lighting, air conditioning, and other systems running. So even if the car continues to travel under a diesel locomotive, all amenities will remain operational for as long as possible,” Ukrzaliznytsia noted.
It did not specify exactly which cars were being referred to, but the illustration shows a compartment car.
“Every new car, in the face of enemy attacks on rolling stock, is an opportunity to keep moving,” the company emphasized.
As previously reported, as part of a state funding program, Ukrzaliznytsia has contracted for 368 passenger cars since 2021. The main supplier is PJSC “Kryukiv Railway Car Building Works” (KVZ).
In late August of this year, Ukrzaliznytsia signed a contract with KVZ for the delivery of 10 new-generation passenger cars by the end of 2029, with a total value of 1.091 billion UAH including VAT, thereby bringing the total number of cars ordered in 2026 to 102.
In late May of this year, Ukrzaliznytsia reported that approximately 1,450 passenger cars are in service, of which 933 are air-conditioned sleeper cars and 100 are high-speed train cars.
CAR, MANUFACTURING, RAILROAD, TRANSPORTATION, UKRZALIZNYTSIA
