Germany intends to provide funding for modernization of Ukrainian locomotives, the press service of the State Railway Administration (Ukrzaliznytsia) has announced. This issue was discussed on 16 November during a visit to the Dnipropetrovsk locomotive plant by a German delegation headed by Hans-Joachim Fuchtel, the parliamentary state secretary at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.
In particular, the German government intends to support a program for modernization and extension of the service lives of Ukraine’s fleet of 2TE116 mainline locomotives. In addition, it plans to assist in restoration of the transport infrastructure of the eastern regions of Ukraine affected by fighting.
Ukraine was represented by First Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Volodymyr Shulmeister, Ukrzaliznytsia Public Joint-Stock Company board member Stefan Hofsaess, the company’s head of external relations Ihor Matveev, the Pridneprovskaya railway’s acting head Ivan Fedorko, and the Dnipropetrovsk locomotive plant’s acting board chairman Volodymyr Boichuk.
The meeting between the two sides was held at the Dnipropetrovsk locomotive plant because the German delegation wanted to inspect the plant, which is where the 2TE116 diesel locomotives will be given a "second life."
"The German government supports the reform of the Ukrainian railway industry. I think this is one of the key reforms in the country," Fuchtel said. According to him, it is important to implement engineering solutions aimed at reducing emissions of harmful substances into the environment during modernization of the 2TE116 locomotives.
The program provides for modernization of 40 locomotives to extend their service lives by 20 years. As a result, Ukrzaliznytsia will receive additional traction power for operation on non-electrified tracks in the Donetsk and Dnieper railroads.
The German state-owned bank KfW is also considering the possibility of granting a loan at an attractive interest rate.
