A great option for TEN-T borders: overlooked opportunities of Ukraine’s railways
While Ukrainian exporters and freight forwarders are searching for new ways to transport goods abroad, “Ukrzaliznytsia” is also looking for new opportunities to improve its infrastructure and operations, according to an article published by intermodalnews.eu.
In this regard, the company has revived two abandoned railway sections toward Romania to enhance rail connections with the neighboring country.
At the same time, the state-owned enterprise is not underestimating the existing railway network, particularly in Zakarpattia, which could be mutually beneficial for both Ukraine and EU countries. Since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, significant congestion has occurred at railway border crossings in Lviv, Volyn, and Chernivtsi regions, as the number of freight cars heading toward Poland and Romania has dramatically increased. This situation has forced Ukrainian freight forwarders to seek new options and routes for exporting goods to European countries. Some have begun using the available capacities of Slovakia and Hungary.
To meet growing customer demand, Ukrzaliznytsia has restored two railway lines in Zakarpattia that lead to the Romanian border. To fully operationalize these lines, the Ukrainian railway company has requested its Romanian counterpart, CFR Infrastructură, to rehabilitate several sections of its network. This initiative would allow both countries to boost cross-border rail freight transport.
However, Ukrzaliznytsia can launch another option for freight forwarders without waiting for Romania’s final decision.
112 Kilometers of New Opportunities
The railway in question is the Chop – Batyovo – Vynohradiv – Dyakovo line. This 112-kilometer-long route, located in the southwestern part of Zakarpattia, connects Romania and Slovakia via an alternative path. Most of the route consists of a single-track, non-electrified railway, except for the Chop – Batyovo section.
A key feature of the Chop – Batyovo – Vynohradiv – Dyakovo line is its dual gauge, allowing rail operators to use wagons of both track standards (1520 mm and 1435 mm) without the need for transshipment or bogie replacement.
During the Cold War, when Romania and Czechoslovakia were allies of the Soviet Union, this line was used to transport coal from Romania to Czechoslovakia.
Currently, the line is largely forgotten and has very low freight traffic, except for the Chop – Batyovo section. Between Batyovo and Dyakovo, only one long-distance passenger train and a few commuter services operate. This means the railway could offer a valuable opportunity for Ukrainian and European companies looking to move cargo to Baltic or Black Sea ports.
Companies exporting to Baltic ports could load their goods directly into European wagons, while those shipping to Black Sea ports could gain a new, shorter, and cheaper transport route. For example, goods could be transported from Romania to Poland via Ukraine and Slovakia instead of Hungary, where freight tariffs are higher.
To implement such a railway connection along the Chop – Batyovo – Vynohradiv – Dyakovo line, Ukrzaliznytsia needs to coordinate customs procedures with Romanian and Slovak partners. It may also be worth considering the creation of a special economic zone along the route.
Despite the ongoing war in Ukraine, Zakarpattia remains one of the safest regions in the country. Many Ukrainian companies have relocated their operations there or are planning to do so.
Another aspect to consider is the potential construction of double-track sections or bypass routes to accommodate increased freight traffic.
Among European transport companies, only a few are currently interested in developing sea-to-sea rail freight connections. For example, PKP Cargo has included the Baltic-Black Sea corridor in its strategy for 2019-2023. Even this Polish operator, however, primarily follows the usual route to Romania via Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic.
This is partly due to EU policy, as Ukraine is not yet part of the TEN-T network. However, the European authorities are working on resolving this issue.
In late July 2022, the European Commission adopted a revised proposal for the TEN-T network development guidelines. The document is being discussed by the Council of the European Union and its preparatory bodies.
Which transport routes in Ukraine could be included in the European network?
Only a few corridors have made it into the approved amendment, including transport highways such as Lviv – Kyiv – Mariupol, Lviv – Odesa, and Lviv – Chernivtsi.
Regarding railways, all these routes differ in track gauge from the TEN-T network. “The proposal also considers the different railway track widths used in Ukraine compared to most EU countries. This discrepancy is a significant obstacle to interoperability,” the European Commission stated in a previous review of the amendment.
During the amendment’s preparation, the Chop – Batyovo – Vynohradiv – Dyakovo railway was considered. It seems surprising that it was not included in the final TEN-T map. Given its dual gauge, it could be an excellent option for improving interaction between the EU and Ukraine.
Now, it is up to Ukraine to promote this forgotten railway line, which runs so close to the EU border.