JSC “Ukrzaliznytsia” (UZ) in May this year transported 11.49 million tons of cargo, which is 19.2% more than in May last year.
According to the press-service of UZ, the average daily load also has positive dynamics: the growth is 15,7% – up to 352,8 thousand tons.
Domestic freight traffic in May increased by 36.5% – to 7.17 million tons, export – decreased by 2%. This is due to Russia’s blocking of the sea “grain corridor”. As a result, the volume of grain transportation for export decreased by 29% – down to 806.9 thousand tons. Imports of goods in May increased by 7% – up to 483.4 thousand tons, transit – 47 thousand tons, the company specified.
The leader of the general cargo transportation in May was building materials – 2.5 million tons, coal – 2.22 million tons, iron and manganese ore – 1.96 million tons, grain and milling products – 1.83 million tons, ferrous metals – 816.3 thousand tons. It is noted that the biggest growth is recorded in transportation of construction materials – more than 70%.
“Ukrzaliznytsia” (UZ) is launching a test flight of the “Kyiv-Warsaw” train with standard “wide” passenger cars in order to obtain the Polish side’s final permission to increase the number of trips and, respectively, seats on this route by two or three times, the press service of UZ said.
According to its data the purpose of the test is to confirm the compatibility of standard passenger cars of UZ with the modernized infrastructure of Polish Railways. The current stage of the project is the final one.
On Wednesday, May 31, 14 standard passenger cars of size 1-BM leave Kiev, which in Jagodina will be converted to euro bogies for “narrow” europeways (1435 mm).
“During my first trip to Poland as chairman of the board of Ukrzaliznytsia in the delegation headed by Deputy Prime Minister for Reconstruction of Ukraine – Minister of Development of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Alexander Kubrakov, we agreed to finalize this project. Earlier, all the tests were carried out, and we realized: our standard cars can freely pass the test run, after which we will get the “green light” from the Polish side. This will allow in two or three times to increase the supply of seats for direct communication between the Ukrainian and Polish capitals, “- quoted in a press release, the head of the board of UZ Eugene Lyashchenko.
Reportedly, UZ has already engaged all RIC-class cars in its fleet (Regolamento Internazionale Carrozze – Italian). In addition, the company asked European partners to transfer new “narrow” cars, but it will take more than two years to order and build such cars. “This did not stop Ukrainian railroad workers, as the demand of our passengers prompts them to find non-standard solutions. Almost a year ago UZ initiated and conducted work with Polish railroad workers on this project realization”, – words of the UZ board member Alexander Pertsovsky are cited in the report.
There were several rounds of negotiations and agreements between the two sides on the issue of compatibility, received technical approval of the Polish regulator UTK (Urząd Transportu Kolejowego). At the request of the Polish side, measurements of the dimensions of each car were carried out jointly.
As noted, the number of seats on the direct flight of the train “Kyiv-Warsaw” is limited at the moment, as the Polish railroaders let in only a train equipped with “narrow” RIC-cars with three-seat compartments.
According to the press service, the direct flight Kiev-Warsaw-Kiev continues to enjoy a rush demand. “Every day only in the mobile application UZ registers more than 3 thousand requests from passengers who are looking for tickets in this service, which is 10 times more than the availability of seats,” – states the company.
As reported there are 42 RIC cars in the fleet of UZ, two of which have been purchased from Krukiv Wagon Works.
In order to increase the number of trips to Poland from Ukraine after the full-scale invasion of Russia, UZ has launched new routes. In particular, “wide” routes have been retained on the route from Kiev to Chełm. Two daily flights conveniently connect with Polish flights to Warsaw. There are also night flights between Kiev and Peremyshl (two sleeper flights in addition to the two Intercity+ flights). Direct flights are launched from Kharkiv to Chelm, from Zaporizhzhya, Dnipro, Odessa, Vinnitsa, Khmelnitsky, Ternopil and Lviv to Peremyshl.
“Ukrzaliznytsia” introduces a new schedule of trains for the summer season-2023 from June 10, according to the Odessa City Council.
“In the new schedule, railroad workers have provided for a new train #148/147 Kiev – Odessa, which will run through Cherkassy,” the Odessa City Council said in a message in the Telegram channel on Saturday.
In addition, the following Ukrzaliznytsia trains extended the route:
№105/106 Odessa – Kiev – Odessa optionally will follow to and from Sumy station, which will allow Sumy residents to reach the seaside city by a direct flight with a convenient time of arrival in Odessa;
№53/54 Odessa – Dnipro – Odessa will optionally be able to run to and from Zaporizhzhia according to the new schedule.
Ukrzaliznytsia JSC is launching a new non-stop car service Vienna – Chop – Vienna from April 24.
“Meet the new alternative route of return from Austria and Hungary to Ukraine. On April 24, a new non-stop car service Vienna – Chop – Vienna will start running,” Ukrzaliznytsia’s Telegram channel said on Friday.
As reported, the car will depart from Vienna daily at 16:42, Budapest-Keleti 19:19 – 19:40, arrival in Chop at 02:28. “After passing border and customs control, continue your journey on the train number 750 Uzhgorod – Kiev, arriving in Chop at 05:19, Mukachevo 06:48 – 06:53, Lviv 11:00 – 11:23, arriving in Kiev at 18:30,” reports Ukrzaliznytsia.
Back from Kiev you can start the journey by train number 749 Kiev – Uzhgorod, which leaves daily from Kiev at 13:16, Lviv 19:59 – 20:25, Mukachevo 00:19 – 00:24, arrival in Chop at 01:10. After passing border and customs control at the station Chop, you can continue the journey by a new direct coach Chop – Vienna, which departs daily from April 25 at 03:28, Budapest-Keleti 08:20 – 08:40, arrival in Vienna at 11:21.
Reportedly, the cost of a ticket from Chop to Vienna is 1,730 UAH. “Tickets are already available at the international ticket offices of Ukrzaliznytsia. And tickets from Kiev to Chop and back can be purchased both at the ticket offices and online: in the application “Ukrzaliznytsia”, in the chat-bot and on the website”, – stated in the message.
Ukrzaliznytsia JSC has imposed a conventional ban on the transportation of food products to Slovakia, the company’s website says.
“It is forbidden to accept for transportation of cargo for the carrier JSC “ZSSK Cargo”, – noted in a note to the convention.
The ban applies to a large list of products: grains, pulses, oilseeds, vegetables, fruit, sugar, alcohol, honey and more.
The restriction came into force on April 19, 2023 and will remain in force until it is lifted.
We shall remind you that “Ukrzaliznytsia” introduced several conventions on food imports to Poland. At the same time, more than 3 thousand freight cars with agricultural products are heading to this country.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) may grant Ukrzaliznytsia (UZ) a EUR200mn emergency support loan under sovereign guarantees.
As stated in a statement on the bank’s website on Tuesday, the bank’s board of directors plans to consider the project at a meeting on May 10, 2023.
According to the information, the loan consists of EUR100 mln of emergency financing of UZ capital investments and EUR100 mln of capital structure support.
It is expected that 50% of the loan will be secured by guarantees of G7/EU donors involved in the conditions when local commercial structures cannot guarantee risk covering mechanisms.
It is noted that with the help of the loan, UZ will be able to increase cross-border capacity with the EU by removing bottlenecks in border crossing, as well as to repair the relevant sections of the railroad bed that were damaged due to the full-scale invasion of Russia. With the funding, UZ will not only be able to renew key rail corridors at the border with the EU, but also to purchase rolling stock to provide comprehensive solutions for expanding the capacity of rail corridors with the EU.
“The project will support the company in the current critical issues that need to be addressed to improve operations and connectivity with the EU, continuing to provide a vital service to people and businesses in need of reliable logistics for key Ukrainian exports (including agricultural products) and critical imports,” the project description on the EBRD website said.
Earlier, Fitch Ratings reported that amid negative operating cash flow expectations for UZ in 2023, the company needs financing which could amount to EUR400m, including EUR199m from existing credit lines with the EBRD and EIB and $200m in the pipeline.
At the end of 2022, UZ’s outstanding debt amounted to 39.5 billion UAH, compared to 33.5 billion UAH in 2021, of which Eurobonds accounted for 82.8% and debt in foreign currency – 94.3%.
At the end of January, UZ signed an agreement with the holders of two issues of Eurobonds worth $895 mln on the deferral of coupon payments and repayment for 24 months. Under the agreements, the new maturity date for the $ 594.9mn 8.25% Eurobond is July 9, 2026, and for the $300mn 7.87% Eurobond – July 15, 2028.
As a result of the bond restructuring, the company received a deferral between 2023 and 2025: only 4% of the total debt is due during that period. The main payments are now due in 2026 – 58% of the current total debt (mostly $595mn Eurobonds) and after 2027 – 32% (mostly $300mn Eurobonds in 2028).
