Ukrainian Railways, Ukrzaliznytsia, has started the implementation of two projects which cover the electrification works to reduce the costs and train emissions.
On august 6, 2021, the company has announced the ongoing progress on the electrification of Cherkasy – Taras Shevchenko rail line which has received a UAH 72.8 million (EUR 2.3 million) state budget to start the project. “The development of design and documentation is currently underway, and after the examination the active phase of works will start,” Ivan Yuryk, the Acting Chairman of the Management Board of Ukrainian Railways said.
The company plans to complete the electrification of the 40 km rail section in the first quarter of 2022. 34 km of tracks and two other stations are operational on the section between Cherkasy, a city in central Ukraine, and Taras Shevchenko. All four stations that serve the rail connection were commissioned in 1876.
The line ensures the suburban traffic and is also used by national trains linking Kyiv, Odessa and Lviv. In September 2020, Ukrainian Railways has put into service a new and modern diesel train on the Cherkasy – Taras Shevchenko rail route. In addition, the line is also used for rail freight transport.
The second project launched on August 2, 2021, includes the electrification works for the 94 km Kovel – Izov – Polish State Border railway line. Ukrainian Railways has received the relevant permission to start the main works from the State Architectural and Construction Inspectorate of Ukraine.
“The Kovel – Izov – Stat Border line is crucial for the development of rail transport in the direction of the European Union. The eectrification of this route will lay a solid foundation for increasing European transit cargo and economic development of our country,” Ivan Yuryk when visited a construction site along the line.
In addition, the introduction of electric traction in the section will also release 10 main locomotives, which will significantly reduce emissions by about 12,000 tonnes per year and will reduce the annual operating costs by UAH 136.4 million (EUR 4.3 million).
The electrification works started with the installation of the catenary at the Ustyluh station, the modernisation of rail sections, and cable network installation at the Lubliniec-Volynskyi station.
During this first phase of the electrification, the works cover the reconstruction of the catenary system, turnouts’ equipment, electric heating systems, the modernisation of railway crossings and the reconstruction of the signalling and communication system.
In addition, more than 11 km of tracks will be reconstructed, over 13 km of tracks will be overhauled along the line. The project also covers the repair of six platforms and 18 office buildings.
Due to the electrification, the line will provide increased capacity for freight trains and will reduce the delivery time. Currently, the trains run on electrified tracks to the Kovel station, and then the cargo is transported by diesel trains in the direction of Kovel – Izov – Goskordon, which is the most expensive part of this route. The line ensures the iron ore export from the Kryvyi Rih region to metallurgical companies in Poland. The Kryvyi Rih Iron Ore Plant (KZHRK) is the largest producer of iron ore in Ukraine and most of its production volume is exported to Eastern Europe. Plant’s reserves amount to 210 million tonnes of iron ore.
Thanks to the electrification of three rail lines – Kovel – Izov – Polish State Border line, Dolynska – Mykolayiv and Cherkasy – T. Shevchenko, Ukraine starts a large programme on the modernisation and electrification of it rail network. “All these projects are designed to reduce emissions and reduce operating costs. In particular, the electrification of the Cherkasy section – T. Shevchenko will significantly improve rail passenger service in the region and relieve the road traffic. This is an important project for the region and the whole of Ukraine,” Ivan Yuryk explained.
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