Ukrzaliznytsia and the state-owned Spanish railway company Renfe are preparing initial steps within a pilot project to implement trains that can adapt to different track gauges – 1520 mm / 1435 mm / 1668 mm.
First Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko announced this during a joint press conference with the Minister of Economy, Trade, and Entrepreneurship of Spain, Carlos Cuerpo Caballero.
According to Sviridenko, a roadmap is currently being developed for the project, addressing the design, testing, and manufacturing of carriages equipped with adjustable wheelsets and gauge-changing devices. This includes testing and certification of the system in countries where it will be deployed.
"To implement the project, it is planned to establish a consortium of Spanish companies, which will apply to the Ministry of Trade of Spain to attract project financing through the mechanism of the Fund for Corporate Internationalization (FIEM) for Ukrzaliznytsia," noted Svyrydenko.
Her Spanish counterpart, Carlos Cuerpo Caballero, added in response to journalists' inquiries,
"This project has not only enormous economic significance but also great symbolic importance, as it will help connect Ukraine with European countries. Currently, both teams are working on developing the technical details of this project and also determining the necessary funding. Once the technical project preparation is completed and the final cost is known, Spain will contribute to this project."
