"Polish business is interested in every possible route to Asia, which would be profitable and sufficient for cargo transportation". It doesn’t matter, if the cargoes will be going through the Russia or bypassing it. And Ukraine can become the important element of new corridors, Michał Grobelny, Polish transport expert and deputy editor-in-chief of Rynek Kolejowy magazine, told to the CFTS.
Yesterday, on January 25, Uzbek media published information about Polish entrepreneurs' initiative in creating of new alternative routes for delivering goods to Uzbekistan bypassing Russia. Thereby the CFTS portal appealed to Michał Grobelny to comment this.
Read more Poland Looking For New Transit Routes For Delivery Of Goods To Uzbekistan
"Polish businessmen are really apolitical; they are interested only in their profits and new opportunities on foreign markets, also in the East. Nevertheless, if the Russian partners are less independent, there could be a problem emerging," – the expert noted.
Grobelny considers that there are a few of new transit routes for cargo transportation from Poland to Asia (Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, China). First one suggests the participation of Ukraine and Polish railway company PKP LHS, operator of broad-gauge railway from Sławków to Ukrainian border. PKP LHS has vast experience in contacts with Ukrainian and Russian entities responsible for cargo transportation.
Route from Sławków via Ukraine is the easiest since it connects the most industrialized region of Poland with the Far East. But this version has some deficiencies. "But of course, there is a conflict in the eastern part of Ukraine and the political situation [in Ukraine] is still uncertain," – Grobelny added.
In these conditions another route for transit transportation of Polish cargoes is possible. It goes via Romania, then by sea to the Caucasus region and Central Asian countries. "The route through Romania could be an option, but there’s lack of sufficient infrastructure and indispensable experience," – Michał Grobelny said.
It is difficult to predict which way will become predominant, the expert considers. But it must be profitable for all participants. "One must remember that every service on such a long route should be considered as a two-way connection. Every country involved in that project should receive and send cargo – if there are empty containers on some part of the route, the viability will be lower," – Michał Grobelny commented.
Now Poland has developed transit routes via Russia to Asia. For example, the city of Lodz must become one of the centers of transit corridor to China "One belt one way".
