The Ukrainian government is actively preparing for a large-scale modernization of the railway infrastructure, particularly the implementation of modern double-decker carriages and the expansion of the European gauge network. Over the past five years, 166 passenger cars of domestic production have been purchased, which are already operating on the country’s routes. This year, an additional 100 units of rolling stock have been ordered, and the budget for 2026 allocates funds for the purchase of another hundred carriages at a cost of approximately 5.7 billion hryvnias.
This is reported by Business • Media
Implementation of double-decker carriages and their advantages
Among the carriages planned for acquisition in 2026 will be the first modern double-decker passenger carriage. According to the government, the maintenance of such carriages requires approximately 10% more expenses compared to single-deck ones; however, the number of seats in a double-decker carriage increases by almost 80%. This will significantly enhance the passenger capacity of trains on popular routes.
Expansion of the European gauge network and integration with Europe
The authorities are paying special attention to the integration of the Ukrainian railway into the European transport network TEN-T. This year, the construction of the European gauge of 1,435 mm on the section from Chop to Uzhhorod, spanning 22 km, has already been completed. The next stage will be the commencement of work on the construction of the European gauge from the Ukrainian-Polish border to Lviv in 2026. In the medium term, there are plans to extend the European gauge to Chernivtsi and Lutsk.
At the same time, according to forecasts from “Ukrzaliznytsia”, the volume of freight transportation in 2025 is expected to decrease from 173 to 160 million tons compared to the previous year. However, in 2026 and 2027, a slight increase in transportation is anticipated — to 161 million tons and 162 million tons, respectively.
“The maintenance costs of single- and double-decker carriages differ by approximately 10%, while the number of seats in a double-decker carriage increases by almost 80%.”