Ukraine is studying the possibility of becoming part of the Trans-Caspian international transport route. This was discussed during the presentation of the capabilities of this corridor in Kiev on 16 November, particularly its passage through the territory of Ukraine, the Interfax Ukraine news agency reports, citing the press service of the State Railway Administration (Ukrzaliznytsia).
"Transportation between Europe and Asia has been developing rapidly in recent years. The Ukrainian railway is currently capable of transporting any cargo in the shortest possible time. Two train ferries that will compete with other ferry lines have been transferred to Ukrzaliznytsia on the orders of the Ministry of Infrastructure,” Ukrzaliznytsia’s acting General Director Oleksandr Zavhorodnyi is quoted as saying.
According to the report, organization of trains on the route Europe-Ukraine-Georgia-Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan-China (through the Black and Caspian seas) and back will facilitate joint participation of Ukraine and Kazakhstan in the implementation of the "Silk Road Economic Belt" project in implementation of the agreements that were reached during an official visit to Kazakhstan by the President of Ukraine.
An alternative route for container trains from China to Europe – Dostyk-Aktau Port-Alyat (Kazakhstan)-Boyuk-Kesik (Azerbaijan)-Batumi (Georgia)-Ilyichevsk Ferry-Izov/Uzhgorod/Chop (Ukraine) – was considered during the presentation.
"We have developed a scheme for delivery of cargoes through the territory of Ukraine, taking account of the neighboring countries, which allows quick delivery of cargoes from the port of Ilyichevsk to the European Union," said Zavhorodnyi.
In addition, the head of Ukrzaliznytsia’s department of commercial operations, Yurii Merkulov, said that the speed of cargo delivery via an alternative route passing through Ukraine would be about 1,000 kilometers per day. To implement the project, tariff policy will be agreed with other participants in the transportation process. The capacity of the Ukrainian railway network makes it possible to implement this project. The main thing is to provide cargoes for transportation on the route.
Interest in extending the route through the territory of Ukraine has also been expressed by representatives of other participating countries.
The Ukrainian railway network consists of almost 22,000 kilometers of tracks, of which 45% are electrified. Railway border crossings on the western border of Ukraine with transshipment terminals on both sides of the border transfer cargoes from 1520-millimeter to 1435-millimeter tracks and back. A train and ferry service connects Ukraine with Georgia, allowing transportation of goods from Europe via the Black Sea and back without overloading.
