Ukrzaliznytsia Determines Number Of Locomotives It Will Need Until 2033

The Ukrainian Railways joint-stock company (Ukrzaliznytsia) has developed and approved a Concept (forecast) for working with its fleet of locomotives until 2033. The document compares the company's current and projected demand for electric and diesel locomotives.

Ukrzaliznytsia board member Frantisek Bures stated this in a column on the CFTS portal.

In particular, according to him, the wear of Ukrzaliznytsia's traction rolling stock is currently more than 90%. 

"The wear of electric locomotives is 94.4% and diesel locomotives 98.3%. Of the total inventory rolling stock, only 190 (5.3%) are younger than 25 years old. It should be recalled that the company's inventory rolling stock includes more than 1,600 electric locomotives and almost 2,000 diesel locomotives," Bures wrote. "As for new locomotives, Ukrzaliznytsia will have to purchase 315 pieces of new traction rolling stock by 2033, taking 35-55% production localization into account."

The presentation he provided indicates the various types of locomotives that Ukrzaliznytsia needs in 2021 and the ones it is projected to require in 2033.

It is estimated that Ukrzaliznytsia needs 210 freight locomotives in 2021 and that it will need 210 in 2033; 760 shunting locomotives in 2021 and 850 in 2033; 30 passenger diesel locomotives in 2021 and 65 in 2033.

In addition, Ukrzaliznytsia currently requires 447 AC electric freight locomotives (it is predicted to require 490 in 2033), 331 DC electric freight locomotives (352), 50 dual-system electric freight locomotives (120), and 260 passenger electric locomotives (2033).

According to Bures, Ukrzaliznytsia should reduce its costs by 2033 by unifying serial production of diesel locomotives and optimize the range of spare parts and materials for their repair. In addition, a major overhaul of individual components of 160 mainline diesel locomotives will be performed by 2033 to modernize them while 50 diesel locomotives will undergo certain types of repairs.

The total estimated cost of the project is up to UAH 90 billion.

As reported previously, the Ukrainian parliament ratified a Ukrainian-French intergovernmental agreement on the supply of locomotives manufactured by the French-based Alstom manufacturer of rolling stock to Ukrzaliznytsia on July 1. It is expected that 130 freight electric locomotives will be purchased.