Ukrzaliznytsia wants to create a reserve fleet of diesel locomotives: it is studying the market of neighboring countries

JSC Ukrzaliznytsia is studying the market in Ukraine and friendly neighboring countries to create a reserve fleet of diesel locomotives. This was stated by Volodymyr Shemayev, deputy director of UZ's investment activities department, writes industry publication CTS.

"Against the backdrop of intensifying shelling at UZ facilities, we are now studying the market for diesel locomotives available in Ukraine and in friendly neighboring countries. In order to evaluate and look at these locomotives together with donors, our international partners, to potentially form an additional reserve fleet of locomotives," Shemayev said at the conference "Production, Operation and Repair of Rolling Stock".

The portfolio of Ukrzaliznytsia's international projects office now exceeds €1 billion. They relate to electric locomotives, gas generation, and rolling stock. Up to 37% of certain projects manage to attract a grant component.

"For example, in the project to be announced by the end of the year concerning electric freight locomotives, 37% is a grant. Thanks to this, the actual cost of the project is more acceptable for Ukraine," Shemayev explained .

UZ will try to increase the share of grants, he said.

"Everything related to the 'passenger train' can be implemented only for grants – either from the state or from the Europeans; infrastructure – 50% from Europeans and 50% from the budget," said a representative of UZ.

According to him, Ukrzaliznytsia can invest its own and credit funds in freight rolling stock.

"It will pay off in 10-12 years, the service life of locomotives can be 40 years, and our locomotive engineers have shown that it can be 60 years or more," Shemayev summarized .

• Due to the shelling of energy infrastructure, UZ is forced to put dozens of diesel locomotives on the tracks to replace electric locomotives. Since the beginning of 2025, the company has been restoring the fleet of diesel locomotives, which is still subject to repair.
• Since the summer of 2025, Russia has been using new tactics to strike key nodes of the Ukrainian railroad with long-range drones. Russians use "shahids" to strike individual locomotives, rather than strategic targets.
• According to World Bank estimates, about 30% of Ukraine's railroad network is in a "damage-repair" cycle.