Reviving Railway Connections Between Ukraine and Moldova
On March 31, Deputy Minister for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine Andrii Kashuba held an online meeting with Moldova's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development Vladimir Bolea. They discussed the revival of passenger railway services between Odesa and Chișinău and the transit of Moldovan freight wagons through Ukrainian territory. This was reported by the Ministry of Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine, according to the publication «Southern Today».
Joining the conversation were the chairman of Ukrzaliznytsia Oleksandr Pertzovsky, head of the railway transport department Oleksandr Fedorenko, Secretary of the Ministry of Infrastructure of Moldova Pescăluță Mircea, and acting general director of «Railways of Moldova» Serhiy Kotelinik.
The Ukrainian side expressed interest in developing international railway transportation with Moldova, emphasizing the need to consider security and economic factors.
«Ukraine and Moldova are not just neighbors but reliable partners united by common European aspirations and strategic visions for infrastructure development. We are confident that restoring the Odesa – Chișinău train service will enhance transport accessibility and economic ties between our countries. At the same time, we must consider all security risks,» said Deputy Minister Andrii Kashuba.
Additionally, the Ukrainian side highlighted the necessity for a detailed analysis of the economic feasibility of restoring the connection, specifically assessing passenger flow, infrastructure usage costs, and potential transportation tariffs, which will allow for an informed decision on launching the route.
The second issue discussed during the meeting was the restoration of the transit of Moldovan freight wagons through Ukraine. The Ukrainian side confirmed that there were no restrictions on their movement. Temporary difficulties in exchanging technical information arose due to a large-scale cyberattack on the information systems of JSC «Ukrzaliznytsia» on March 23 of this year.
«Currently, active work is ongoing to restore stable system operations. The Ukrainian side is ready to ensure full data exchange on Moldovan wagons immediately after the completion of technical recovery measures,» the ministry reported.
In conclusion, it was noted that the parties agreed to continue working on all issues and maintain close communication for further development of railway connections between Ukraine and Moldova.
