Ukrainian railways sees high growth in grain cargo freight
Oleksandr Kamyshin, chairman of the board of Ukrzaliznytsia (Photo:Укрзалізниця / Facebook)
Rail freight volumes on Ukrzaliznytsia, the national railway operator, increased by 46% in October compared to March, Ukrzaliznytsia CEO Oleksandr Kamyshin said at the European Business Association Infrastructure Day on Nov. 29.
According to him, freight transit volumes had nearly dropped to zero after the start of the full-scale war, but has now picked up due to grain cargo.
Grain currently compromises 30% of the overall freight cargo flow, compared to 1% prior to the invasion, he noted. This occurred primarily due to the reduction of other forms of cargo transiting through Ukraine, Kamyshin added.
Grain cargo flows are still increased, he said, pointing out that Ukraine’s railways have transported a high of 900,000 tons of grain per month, with that volume rising to over a million tons in the coming months.
Kamyshin also named Ukrzaliznytsia’s priorities, specifically:
- the development of western border crossings;
- flexible reconstruction of routes to maximize their performance;
- renting hopper grain trucks in the Prozorro.Sale system.
The railway chief also called on businesses to create logistics centers and terminals near the western border of the country to boost export sales.
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