Moldova and Ukraine intensify railway cooperation: emphasis on cargo transit to the EU

Moldova has taken the initiative to resume rail transit of Ukrainian cargo to the European Union and vice versa. Representatives of the state-owned company "Moldovan Railways" expressed such interest during an official visit to Kyiv, where they met with the management of JSC "Ukrzaliznytsia".

The main goal of the negotiations was to find joint solutions for the restoration of logistics routes that were significantly disrupted as a result of the full-scale war in Ukraine. The new challenges faced by the transport systems of both countries require a review of cargo and passenger traffic routes, as well as the development of effective cross-border infrastructure.

Chairman of the Board of "Ukrzaliznytsia" Oleksandr Pertsovskyi supported the initiative of his Moldovan colleagues and emphasized the importance of intensifying bilateral cooperation. According to him, Ukraine is ready for a constructive dialogue and joint implementation of projects designed to strengthen logistical ties in the region and ensure uninterrupted transportation of goods towards the EU.

During the meeting, the parties also reached a preliminary agreement on the restoration of passenger rail service between Chisinau and Odessa. It is planned that the flight will be launched with the beginning of the summer tourist season, which will improve the mobility of citizens and promote the development of tourism between the two countries.

Special attention was paid to the possibility of using a ferry to transport freight cars from the Ukrainian port of Chornomorsk to the Georgian port of Batumi. Such a route can become an important link in the expansion of multimodal transportation on the Black Sea, in particular towards the Caucasus and Central Asia.

Another important element of the discussion was the initiative to create a single database of freight cars, which will allow to speed up customs procedures on the Ukrainian-Moldovan border. The parties also exchanged experience in the field of digitalization of logistics processes and improvement of operational mechanisms, which will contribute to improving the efficiency of both railway systems.