EU invests €540 billion in railway modernization, Ukrzaliznytsia needs ₴48.8 billion for stable operations

The European Commission has presented an ambitious plan for the modernization of the European Union’s railway infrastructure, estimated to cost €540 billion by 2050. According to this project, by 2040 all major railway hubs in the EU are to be connected by high-speed lines, allowing trains to travel at speeds of at least 200 km/h, with most routes expected to reach speeds of 250 km/h and above. These investments are anticipated to help overcome the stagnation in passenger rail transport and contribute to achieving the EU’s climate goals.

This is reported by AgroReview

Ukrzaliznytsia’s needs for stable operations

Meanwhile, according to the Chairman of Ukrzaliznytsia, Oleksandr Pertsovsky, the company needs to find ₴48.8 billion to cover its liquidity deficit in order to ensure stable operational activities by 2026. This amount does not include the repayment of Eurobonds, the debt obligations of which are planned to be restructured. It is expected that the necessary funding will be secured through internal optimization, the implementation of new tariff solutions, as well as state support for passenger transport.

“The total loss from passenger transport next year could reach around ₴21.9 billion.”

Changes in financial indicators for freight transport

The company also forecasts that revenue from freight transport in 2025 will decrease from ₴20.4 billion last year to ₴3.2 billion this year. Despite the expected increase in transport volumes in 2026, a loss of ₴0.6 billion is anticipated, which is projected to rise to ₴4.8 billion in 2027.