Ukraine is starting to build the first Eurotrack — from Uzhhorod to the EU

This will make it possible to launch a direct railway connection between Ukrainian Uzhgorod and European cities: Vienna, Bratislava, Kosice, Budapest, Prague, Bucharest, Dresden and Belgrade, writes dw.com.

Illustrative photo

Ukraine begins the construction of the first European railway line — from Uzhhorod to Chop (the westernmost city at the junction of the borders with Slovakia and Hungary). Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal announced this on Thursday, April 11.

"Uzhhorod becomes the first regional center of Ukraine, which will be connected to Europe by the Eurorail. This will make it possible to launch a direct railway connection between Uzhhorod and Vienna, Bratislava, Kosice, Budapest, Prague, Bucharest, Dresden and Belgrade," he said.

The Prime Minister added that the implementation of the project will create a "transportation hub" in Uzhgorod, which will ensure the transfer of passengers between broad-gauge trains and trains of European Union countries.

"This project will not only provide comfort for passenger traffic, but will also bring us logistical opportunities for freight transportation, free up automobile checkpoints after work at the corresponding logistics terminal is established," Shmyhal noted.

Where will the next Eurotracks be?

The track construction project was developed in 2021, and it will be implemented at the expense of Ukrzaliznytsia funds and grant funds from the European Union within the framework of the Connecting Europe Facility program in a ratio of "50 to 50".

As Yevhen Lyashchenko, the chairman of the board of Ukrzaliznytsia, told Suspilnya, the installation of a single-track railway section of 1435 millimeters inside the existing wide gauge of 1520 mm is planned to be completed by the end of 2025.

According to Shmyhal, after Uzhgorod, Eurotracks are planned to be built from Lviv, Chernivtsi and Kovel to the borders with the EU.

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