The Ukrzaliznytsia public railway company’s head Wojciech Balczun continues to broaden the company’s cooperation with foreign partners. Now, the national railway company is negotiating with the Polish rolling stock manufacturer Pesa Bydgoszcz, the CFTS portal reports, citing the Rynek Kolejowy publication.
According to Balczun, negotiations are currently being held on the signing of a memorandum with Pesa Bydgoszcz. "I think that they (the negotiations) will end successfully soon," Balczun said. The Polish company also confirmed the information about negotiations with Ukrzaliznytsia, but it did not disclose details. The Rynek Kolejowy publication suggested that a memorandum could be signed at the Innotrans railway exhibition, which will be held in Berlin from 20 to 23 September.
According to Balczun, the negotiations on cooperation are being held with the aim of attracting foreign companies to participate in Ukrzaliznytsia’s tenders. "In the future, tenders will be announced in accordance with all the rules and with equal access for all manufacturers," the head of Ukrzaliznytsia said.
Pesa Bydgoszcz is a leading manufacturer of rolling stock in Poland. The company delivered 15 rail buses to Ukrzaliznytsia from 2004 to 2012. Kyiv recently began operation of new Foxtrot trams. Pesa Bydgoszcz also modernizes wagons and locomotives. When Balczun headed PKP Cargo, the company modernized locomotives for Ukrzaliznytsia jointly with the Newag company.
Ukrzaliznytsia recently signed a memorandum of cooperation with Newag, another railcar manufacturing company from Poland. The Ukrainian railway company has also entered into agreements with two other Polish companies - PKP Energetyka and PKP LHS. In addition to these Polish companies, Balczun plans to cooperate with Bombardier (Canada) and General Electric (United States).
