Ukrzaliznytsia to receive its first electric locomotive: timeline announced
26 April 16:07
Ukrzaliznytsia plans to receive its first Alstom UA8AC electric locomotive in the first quarter of 2027, and in total, the company expects to receive 55 such locomotives by the end of 2029, according to Vladimir Shemaev, director of the international projects office at JSC “Ukrzaliznytsia,” as reported by "Komersant Ukrainian" citing “Interfax-Ukraine. “
“This will be a minor overhaul of the freight electric locomotive fleet, which will serve as a foundation for the fleet in the coming years,” Shemaev noted during the 8th International Conference “Railways of Ukraine: Development and Investment” in Kyiv.
Oleksiy Balesta, Deputy Minister of Community and Territorial Development, reported at the conference that since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, more than 300 locomotives have been damaged, and about 50 have been destroyed beyond repair.
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According to Ukrzaliznytsia, 9 diesel locomotives were damaged in the first half of 2025, 119 in the second half, and 81 in the first quarter of 2026.
As previously reported, Ukrzaliznytsia signed a EUR473 million contract with Alstom Transport following an international tender organized by the World Bank. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development subsequently joined the project.
Among other international projects that Ukrzaliznytsia plans to implement, he mentioned the cooperation agreement signed between the governments of Ukraine and Spain regarding the creation of a gauge-changing bogie capable of changing track gauge without stopping. According to him, the first stage involves developing design documentation for such a bogie.
“In about two years, such a bogie will be manufactured in Ukraine, after which testing will begin. If the results of these tests are positive, we can then discuss the commercial production of such bogies and, accordingly, railcars, both for the Ukrainian market and for European markets,” noted the director of Ukrzaliznytsia’s International Projects Office.
Shemaev also reported that a meeting was recently held with Korean partners, with whom Ukrzaliznytsia plans to prepare a feasibility study over the next three years for a high-speed railway from Kyiv to Lviv and onward to the Polish border.
Separately, the director of Ukrzaliznytsia’s International Projects Office told Interfax-Ukraine that Ukrzaliznytsia has joined a project to build decentralized gas-fired power generation facilities at the government’s request. Specifically, 40 MW of equipment has already been delivered, and preparatory work for its installation is currently underway.
In addition, a tender in accordance with the rules of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) for an additional 160 MW has been completed; its results are in the process of being signed, and equipment delivery is expected within 8 months.
Shemaev noted that Ukrzaliznytsia is implementing this project in partnership with the EBRD and the European Commission; it is supported by a €41 million grant, with an additional £20 million in equipment provided by the United Kingdom.
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