The Ukrainian Railways joint-stock company (Ukrzaliznytsia) and the Polish State Railways (PKP) will develop intermodal routes connecting Asia and Europe.
During the InnoTrans 2024 international trade fair for transport technology in Berlin, the Ukrainian and Polish railways agreed to develop intermodal rail routes between Asia and Europe. To achieve this, the companies will work together to increase the capacity and efficiency of border crossings for freight transportation and expand cross-border railway infrastructure.
"Despite the war, Ukraine remains a promising country for the establishment of diversified links between Asia and EU countries, particularly through the route People's Republic of China - Republic of Kazakhstan - Republic of Azerbaijan - Georgia - Ukraine to the Republic of Poland via Polish-Ukrainian railway border crossings. Therefore, the main task for both parties is to restore and develop the Eurasian intermodal connection and maximize the efficiency of rail freight transportation at Polish-Ukrainian border crossings," the statement said.
According to Ukrzaliznytsia’s Board Chairman Yevhen Liaschenko, Ukraine and Poland need to coordinate their efforts and work together to develop Polish-Ukrainian railway border crossings and TEN-T corridors with the 1435 mm track gauge on Ukrainian territory.
"In addition, strengthening our logistics partnership will help develop transit corridors that are promising for restoring our country's transit potential, such as the TMTM (Trans-Caspian International Transport Route), which connects Asia with Europe. Ukraine and Poland are key countries on this route. Both countries are interested in developing intermodal logistics between Ukraine and EU countries, building container terminals, and launching alternative routes and services," he said.
"I am convinced that this cooperation will facilitate an increase in rail freight traffic between Poland and Ukraine and the development of a trade corridor from China through Central and East Asia," said Alan Beroud, the president and CEO of the Polish State Railways & the head of the PKP Group.
