BRIEF INFORMATION ON RAIL TRANSPORT OF UKRAINE

Rail transport of Ukraine is an important component of the European transport system. Railway network of Ukraine constitutes more than 8.0% of Europe’s total railway length (excluding European part of Russia), cargo turnover amounts to 26.0%, cargo traffic – more than 24.0%, passenger traffic – 8.0% of railway traffic in Europe.

In recent years there has been a tendency of gradual increase of cargo turnover in international traffic. Specific weight of international cargo turnover in total cargo turnover reached 59.3%.

Railway transport is the most important component of multi-industry economy of Ukraine.

Total lengths of railway network of Ukraine constitutes 22473 kilometers, 40.5% of which is electrified, 60.3% - equipped with trains automatic control system, 67.5% - equipped with all-electric switches-and-signals interlocking.

Railways include:

1684 rail stations;

53 railway car shops;

44 car repair plants;

68 locomotive sheds;

Number of cars amounts to 175310 units,

Number of locomotives – 4514 units, including 1796 electric locomotives, and 2718 diesel locomotives.

Public railway transport management is exercised by the State railway transport administration of Ukraine (Ukrzaliznytsia).

Six railways carry cargo and passenger traffic in Ukraine: Donetsk, Lviv, Odesa, Prydniprovska, Pivdenna and Pivdenno-Zakhidna railways. Ukrzaliznytsia has elaborated the Concept and the Program of railway transport restructuring
(1998-2003).

Core objectives of the Restructuring Program are as follows:

• establishment of consumer-oriented, flexible economic management system, sensitive to technical progress;

• increase of railway incomes due to attraction of additional cargo traffic, improvement of service rendering;

• bringing fixed capital stock, labor and material resources in compliance with the economy and population need of the of transport activity;

• liquidation of unprofitable and low-profitable types of activities;

• modernization of railway vehicles and railway transport infrastructure, its technical re-equipment, and achievement on this basis of manufacturing high efficiency, integration into European transport system;

• improvement of railway transport economic relations with consumers of its services, allied types of transport, state and regions.

In 2000 railways of Ukraine loaded 296 million tons of cargo. Cargo turnover in 2000 constituted 172806.0 million tons/kilometer, which exceeds the level of the previous year by 10.6%.

Volumes of cargo traffic also increased and constituted 357266.9 thousand tons, including:

export traffic – 77098.3 thousand tons;

transit traffic – 39800.8 thousand tons;

import traffic – 22322.3 thousand tons.

Analysis of transit traffic volumes depending upon country indicates that 89.3% of it belongs to traffic from the CIS countries: 65.1% - from/to Russia, 15.4% - from/to Kazakhstan, 5.3% - from/to Belarus, and 3.5% - from/to Moldova.

Transit traffic in 2000 was carried:

By entry to Ukrainian railways:

98.0% - via railway land passages;

2.0% - via ports;

By exit from Ukrainian railways:

56.8% - via ports;

43.2% - via railway land passages;

Cargo turnover volumes analysis depending upon nomenclature indicates domination of the following:

import – iron ore and manganite, coal, oil and oil products, building materials, corn, chemicals, ferrous metals, commercial and mineral fertilizers;

export – ferrous metals, iron ore and manganite, building materials, commercial and mineral fertilizers, oil and oil products, scrap iron, coal, chemicals, and corn;

transit – oil and oil products, coal, iron ore and manganite, commercial and mineral fertilizers, ferrous metals, chemicals, corn, building materials, and timber cargoes.

In 2000 railways of Ukraine carried 236.3 thousand tons of container traffic, including middle capacity containers – 74.2 thousand tons, and large capacity containers – 162.1 thousand tons.

According to the results of the year 2000 cargo traffic income amounted to 1389 million US dollars, including transit traffic income – 340 million US dollars.

With the purpose of attraction of transit cargoes via sea trade ports through rates on railway cargo traffic and its processing in sea trade ports are applied.

According to forecasting information annual international traffic volume growth by 2-3% is expected by the year of 2010, which will be favored by the organization of national network of international transport corridors (ITC).

Geographic position of Ukraine stipulates its special significance for the development of the European transport system, solution of pressing problems, concerning provision of passenger and cargo traffic optimal path, reduction of traffic time, lowering of transport component of the production value.

Establishment of the national network of international transport corridors in Ukraine and integration into international transport system is a priority national way of the country’s transport complex development.

Total lengths of international transport corridors railway system in Ukraine constitutes 3354 kilometers.

The shortest ways from Europe to Transcaucasia, Central Asia, Iran, Afghanistan; from Poland, Scandinavian and Baltic states to the Black Sea ports, Middle East countries lie on the territory of Ukraine. On Western borders railway has pre-boundary crossings at the following stations: Yagodyn, Izov, Rava-Ruska, Mostyska-2, Uzhgorod, Chop, Batevo, D’yakovo, Vadul-Syret.

Three of nine priority international transport corridors, determined by the Second International Conference lie on the territory of Ukraine:

#3 Berlin/Dresden – Katovitse – Lviv – Krasne – Ternopil – Zhmerynka – Koziatyn – Kyiv.

#5 Trieste – Ljubljana – Zagreb – Budapest – Chop – Lviv;

- Bratislava – Chop – Lviv;

#9 Alexandrupolis – Plovdiv – Bucharest – Kishinev – Kuchurgan – Rozdilna – Zhmerynka – Kyiv – Nezhyn – Chernigiv – Gornostayivka – Zhlobyn – Vitebsk - Saint-Petersburg – Helsinki with course shifts:

9a Rozdilna – Odesa, than to Izmail and along the perspective line to Reni, Romania;

9c Nezhin – Khutor Mykhailivskyi – Zernovo – Moscow;

Via Ukrainian ports Izmail and Reni interaction with water corridor #7 on the Danube takes place.

With the purpose of provision of the minimum distance of traffic from Europe to Transcaucasia, Central Asia, and Middle East countries, it was agreed between Ukraine and Poland to create additional corridor: Baltic Sea (Gdansk) – Black Sea (Odesa).

Of great importance is the organization of the Europe – Asia corridor (#3 and 5, from Fastiv via Znamenka – Dnipropetrovsk – Donetsk – Chervona Mogyla, via Volgograd, Astrakhan – Makat – Beyneu, Turkmenistan, and Iran), which compared to the southern direction – the corridor #2, will reduce cargo distance from Europe by 700-1300 kilometers.

Particular result will be achieved by increase of traffic volumes by ferry service Ukraine – Georgia. Along with functioning ferry line Azerbaijan (Baku) – Turkmenistan (Turkmenbashi) TRASEKA corridor (Europe – Caucasus – Asia) is being organized, the shortest way to the countries of Transcaucasia and Central Asia.

The main port potential of Ukraine is concentrated in 18 merchant sea ports of the State Department for Maritime and Inland Water Transport and the Ministry of Transport of the Ukraine. Starting from 1997 the cargo turnover in the sea ports has been increasing. In 1999 it exceeded 80 million tons, in 2000 it is expected to reach 84 million tons.

The sea ports of the Ukraine are deep-sea ports, with specialized cargo handling terminals equipped with modern equipment, are situated along the international transport corridors.

Along its Black and Azov Sea coastline there are 18 merchant sea ports: Reni, Izmail, Ust-Dunaisk, Belgorod-Dnestrovsky, Illichevsk, Odessa, Yuzhny, Nikolayev, Sevastopol, Yalta, Theodosia, Kerch, Berdyansk and Mariupol.

The berthage line of these 18 major sea ports total more than 38 km, consisting of: about 11 km for bulk and dry-bulk cargo; about 15 km for all types of general cargo; 4,5 km for passenger operations; 1,5 km for liquid cargoes; and 4 km for auxiliary functions.

The 18 ports are equipped with about600 gantry cranes, approx. 1,500 forklift trucks of different types, and some 400 other units of port machinery. These ports have over 500,000 sq. m of sheltered storage areas, and over 2 million sq. m of open storage spaces.

The most important Ukrainian ports are those of Odessa, Illichevsk and Yuzhny, all situated not far from each other on the northwestern part of the Black Sea coast. These three ports alone account for 70% of the total cargo turnover in Ukrainian sea ports; and offer the best sea approach ways, which can accommodate large vessels with draft of from 11,5 m to even 14 m; The major container terminals in Ukraine are located in ports f Odessa and Illichevsk.

Illichevsk merchant sea port, one of the largest in Ukraine, is situated on the cost of Suchoy Liman (estuary), 12 miles southwest of Odessa. The port can admit vessels of up to 13 m draft and lifting capacity more than 100,000 t. Port Illichevsk is a component of the European Community’s 9^th International Transport Corridor, and also a component of the Baltic Sea- Black Sea Corridor. Railway ferry crossings connect the port with Bulgaria and Georgia.

The port’s throughput capacity is 24 million tons a year.

The port features specialized cargo facilities:

railway ferry terminal;

liquid cargoes terminal for handling liquid fertilizers, liquid caustic soda and vegetable oils;

sheltered terminal for storage and transfer of bulk mineral fertilizers;

container terminal;

Port offers specialized facilities for handling heavy lifts (max. 300 t).

The port has 28 berths, and the berthing line runs a total of 5,5 km. Its berthing depths range from 9,6 to 13 m.

All port berths are equipped with railway access lines, that have enabled the port to reach a turnover capacity of up to 700 wagons a day.

Different cargoes can be readied and loaded, forwarding service.

Container transportation around the Ukraine, the CIS and European countries via heavyweight trucks.

ODESSA SEA PORT

The port is located on the northwestern coast of the Black Sea.

Navigation is possible year-round, but during severe winter ice conditions which can last about 30 days, icebreaker assistance often proves to be necessary.

Only vessels that do not exceed draft 12 m, length 240 m and breadth 40 m are allowed into the port’s inner waters. Gas carriers are forbidden to enter port waters.

Specifications:

The port can handle up to 38 million tons of cargo per year, ie 14 million tons of dry cargoes and 24 million tons of liquid bulk cargoes.

The port is equipped with modern equipment, machinery and devices for handling the following cargoes: oil and petroleum products, bulk raw sugar, bulk and packed grain, citrus fruits, bananas, and other cargoes packed in sacks, boxes, packets, big bags, barrels, or containers.

There are 38 berths with depths ranging from 8 to 13 m.

The berth line totals over 8,000 m.

The port has 7 terminals for handling dry cargoes, as well as oil and container terminals.

The port is equipped with various harbors that provide inspection areas and specialized terminals, harbors.

quarantine harbor admits ships of up to 11,5 m draft and 240 m length.

new harbor admits ships of up to 11,5 m draft and 240 m length.

cabotage harbor admits ships of up to 11,5 m draft and 240 m length.

convenience harbor admits ships of up to 11,5 m draft and 240 m length.

Freight forwarding via railway, sea and river ports of Ukraine, as well as via the CIS countries, Baltic states and countries of Central Asia is performed by Ukrainian forwarding companies.

One of the biggest and most authoritative among them is Joint Venture, Closed Joint Stock Company "Trans Rail Ukraine" (web-site: www.transrail.kiev.ua)