Ukrainian Railways has restored two border crossings with Romania, hoping to establish additional railway routes between the countries. The railway company urges its Romanian counterpart do ‘do its job’ on their side of the border.

The restoration concerns the cross-border lines of Rakhiv-Berlebash (19.3 km) and Teresva-Câmpulung la Tisa (1.1 km). The first connects the Romanian hub of Constanta with Kyiv, while the second connects to Uzhhorod, on the border with Slovakia.

More border capacity needed

The lines were closed 11 and 15 years ago respectively, but there is a clear need for more capacity on the border today, explains Alexander Kamyshin, CEO of Ukrainian Railways. “As of today we have two border connections with Romania, and that is where we have the longest waiting line. By adding these new border connections we can add up to six more trains a day, that’s another 3,5 million tons of cargo per year.”

The restoration only includes a small part of the railway line, which is there on both sides. Ukrainian Railways says to have completed the distance on the Ukrainian side. “Now Romanian Railways has to do its job and rehabilitate 16km on the Romanian side. And then we will have another acting border connection for cargo and passenger transportation”, says Kamyshin.

Finding new ways out for export

Ukrainian Railways is working hard to improve its connectivity with the EU, especially now that rail freight is playing a large role in the export of grain and other export products. The role of Romania in this has grown since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. The country is developing new railway connections and terminals, realising its potential, but according to critics this could be done faster.

In the meantime, other transit routes are established. Earlier this month a rail link between Ukraine and Moldova, closed since 1999, was reopened. The 22-km long railway line connects Berezyne in Western Ukraine to Basarabeasca in Southern Moldova. “We strive to build new infrastructure connecting us with the EU, even during the war. That’s how we increase cargo exports and facilitate our passenger mobility”, the CEO of Ukrainian Railways explains.

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