The State Railway Administration (Ukrzaliznytsia) and the Kryukov Railcar Building Works (Kremenchug, Poltava region) have started preparatory work for testing the EKr1 Tarpan high-speed trains at the speed of 200 kilometers per hour. The Interfax Ukraine news agency reported this, citing Oleksandr Kava, an advisor to the Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine.
"The EKr1 Tarpan high-speed trains currently have the permission of the interdepartmental commission to operate at the maximum speed of 160 kilometers per hour. However, the designers of the domestic high-speed electric train made provisions for operation of the electric trains at the maximum speed of 200 kilometers per hour," he said.
The interdepartmental commission should make the relevant decision based on the results of the tests at speeds of 200-220 kilometers per hour, i.e. plus 10% of the maximum operating speed.
"Increasing the speed of passenger trains is one of the main areas of reform and development of passenger traffic and increase of the competitiveness of rail transport. Currently in Ukraine, there is no legal framework for commercial operation of trains at speeds exceeding 160 kilometers per hour. Therefore, work has begun on preparation of the rules for technical operation of railway vehicles at speeds of 161-220 kilometers per hour," said the ministerial adviser.
As previously reported, the Kryukov Railcar Building Works has manufactured two Tarpan trains. Both began operating in the Ukrzaliznytsia network in the middle of last year.
