The Ukrainian Ministry of Infrastructure is predicting that two EKr1 electric trains manufactured by the Kryukov Railcar Building Works will go into operation next week. Infrastructure Minister Maksym Burbak announced this at a news briefing, the RBK Ukraine publication reports.

"I would like to invite you all to the ceremonial launch and presentation of two electric trains manufactured by the Kryukov plant next week. Finally, after idling for two years with the government not getting around to buying them, the government’s instruction has been implemented. We have concluded an agreement, and they will go on their first trip next week. They have undergone trials, they have been certified, and they are ready for operation,” said Burbak.

According to him, the first trip will be on the Kiev-Lviv route.

As reported, in March last year, the Cabinet of Ministers ordered purchase of four electric trains from the Kryukov Railcar Building Works by 2015. Two of the four trains have now been built, but the State Railway Administration (Ukrzaliznytsia) has been unable to buy or take delivery of the trains via another financial scheme for one year now and launch them into operation on routes.

As the press service of the Kryukov Railcar Building Works reported in April last year, the price of one dual-system, high-speed, nine-car EKr1 electric train is UAH 200 million, including value-added tax (UAH 166.667 million or USD 20.85 million, excluding VAT, at the exchange rate at that time). Meanwhile, Ukraine bought Hyundai trains for USD 29.165 million (excluding VAT). Taking account of the cost of the modular spare parts and documents supplied with them, the 10 Hyundai trains cost USD 30.7 million each. "That is USD 36.840 million, including VAT, compared with USD 25 million at the Kryukov Railcar Building Works,” the statement said.

A year ago, the hryvnia national currency’s official exchange rate to the dollar was 7.99 to 1. The exchange rate is now (as of June 12) 11.65 to 1. Thus, the cost of the trains manufactured by the Kryukov Railcar Building Works is USD 14.306 million (excluding VAT) or USD 17.167 million (including VAT) at the current exchange rate. However, it is unknown whether the price that the Kryukov Railcar Building Works announced for the trains will remain unchanged if inflation and the increased prices of the components used in its production are taken into account.