Switzerland Grants 27 Million Francs to Ukraine's Railway for Major Infrastructure Upgrade

Ukraine's Railway Forges Partnership with Switzerland

According to ХВИЛЯ: Ukrzaliznytsia, Ukraine's state railway operator, has signed memoranda of cooperation with Switzerland's State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and Swiss private companies. This collaboration marks a significant step in rebuilding Ukraine's critical infrastructure. The Swiss government will provide 27.3 million Swiss francs in funding for the three-year project. An intergovernmental agreement was finalized in August 2025, highlighting the sustained international support for Ukraine's recovery efforts. This partnership arrives as Ukraine's railway system remains vital for both civilian and economic resilience.

Planned Infrastructure Modernization

This initiative makes Ukrzaliznytsia the first Ukrainian enterprise to directly engage Swiss private sector expertise for national reconstruction. The project's supplies will include:

• Over 1 million sets of rail fasteners, sufficient to upgrade approximately 250 kilometers of track;
• 4,000 sectional insulators from Arthur Flury AG, equipment that will enable the modernization of 36% of Ukraine's entire overhead contact network.

The rail fasteners will be supplied by the company Schwihag AG.

'The railway remains the main transport artery of our nation. This partnership is a clear example of how international responsibility transforms into concrete steps for the stability of our infrastructure. We are grateful to the Swiss Government for its faith in Ukraine and its systematic assistance.' Oleksii Kuleba, a representative of Ukrzaliznytsia

The project promises to substantially improve the condition of Ukraine's railway infrastructure, which is crucial for a nation navigating immense challenges. The signing of these memoranda with Swiss partners is a key milestone in restoring Ukraine's infrastructure, which has suffered due to conflict and economic strain. Engaging international investment and technology, particularly from Swiss firms, can lay the groundwork for modernizing the rail transport sector, which holds strategic importance for the country's economy and logistics. Furthermore, this project demonstrates the readiness of international partners to support Ukraine during difficult times, which may stimulate further investment across various economic sectors.