Ukrzaliznytsia has introduced a convention for the transportation of goods in foreign wagons on the territory of Ukraine. According to the company's website, the restriction will take effect from March 1 and remain in place "until further notice."
The restriction applies to wagons from Uzbekistan Railways, Georgian Railways, Estonian Railways, Lithuanian Railways, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, Russian Railways, Tajikistan Railways, Latvian Railways, Belarusian Railways, Moldova Railways, Kyrgyzstan Railways, Turkmenistan Railways, Azerbaijan Railways, and South Caucasus Railway.
As explained during an online meeting between Ukrzaliznytsia representatives and agricultural market participants on February 27, Deputy Director of the Department of Transportation Technology and Commercial Operations Valerii Tkachev, the decision is based on two reasons. Primarily, it is related to a significant surplus of wagons in Ukraine. Additionally, several Asian countries currently have bans on the import of foreign wagons, which also affect Ukrainian wagons.
"When a fleet belonging to another country operates while a new Ukrainian fleet, possibly even bought on credit, is left idle, this is not the right approach," emphasized Valerii Tkachev.
He also mentioned that the railway administrations of the aforementioned countries have not yet agreed to sign bilateral agreements with Ukrzaliznytsia regarding the operation or joint use of wagons.
