The Ukrainian Railways joint-stock company (Ukrzaliznytsia) plans to build 120 grain cars for the 1520-mm and European track gauges this year.
This was stated during a meeting of Ukrzaliznytsia’s Export Office, the CFTS portal reports, citing the publication Rail.insider.
According to Hennadii Maidanyk, the director of Ukrzaliznytsia’s commercial department, the recently presented hopper cars are intended for operation on the 1520-mm and 1435-mm track gauges, and they are currently undergoing tests.
However, by the end of the year, Ukrzaliznytsia plans to add 120 of these grain hoppers to the fleet of its subsidiary Transport Logistics Center.
The main advantage of the railcars is that they can transport goods within Ukraine and abroad without transfers.
As reported, in 2023, Ukrzaliznytsia presented a grain car built at its facilities. It is optimized for operation on the 1520- and 1435-mm (European) track gauges.
"To increase exports, we need not only to develop our border infrastructure but also to renew our rolling stock. At Ukrzaliznytsia's production facilities, we have produced a grain wagon that is designed to transport goods on the territory of Ukraine and the 1435-mm track gauge used in the member countries of the European Union. It takes into account all requirements, characteristics, and dimensions of the infrastructure. We plan to mass produce these wagons in the future," Ukrzaliznytsia’s Board Chairman Yevhen Liaschenko said at the time.
The new grain hopper car (model 19-8005-U) is designed for transporting grain and other bulk food cargo. It has a carrying capacity of 70 tons, a body volume of 104 cubic meters, 5 loading hatches, 6 unloading hatches, and a design speed of 120 km/h.
