Ukrainians are expecting a new stage in the development of railway transportation — already next year, modern double-decker passenger cars will appear on the tracks. Funds for their purchase are allocated in the state budget, and the technology will allow transporting more passengers at lower costs.
This was reported by Deputy Minister of Finance Oleksandr Kava during a meeting with representatives of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine (ACC).
When will double-decker trains be launched
According to Kava, the first such carriages may go on routes as early as 2026. Currently, the government has signed a contract for the supply of 100 new carriages, some of which will be double-decker. Their estimated cost is — 5.7 billion hryvnias.
The Deputy Minister emphasized that over the past five years, the government has already purchased 166 modern carriages of Ukrainian production that are currently used on various routes. The new double-decker carriages will be a logical continuation of the rolling stock renewal.
Benefits of double-decker carriages
According to the estimates by the Ministry of Finance, such trains allow for optimizing transportation costs:
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maintenance costs differ by only 10% compared to regular carriages;
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meanwhile, the number of passenger seats increases by almost 80%;
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the economic effect is achieved due to greater capacity and lower fuel and maintenance costs.
«Double-decker carriages will allow for transporting significantly more people without increasing operating costs», — explained Kava.
Prospects for development
The Ministry of Finance plans to expand the model range of double-decker carriages. Some of them will be adapted for overnight trips with sleeping compartments, others — for daytime routes with comfortable seats.
Ukrzaliznytsia is gradually modernizing its fleet, focusing on Ukrainian manufacturers. The development of double-decker trains is part of the state strategy for infrastructure renewal and enhancing energy efficiency in transportation.