The Spanish side is ready to support the development of the railway financially, and has the relevant companies, experience and ready-made solutions
Development of Ukrainian railways under EU standards
The team of the Ministry of Development of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure of Ukraine held a meeting with the Spanish delegation led by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Entrepreneurship of the Kingdom of Spain Carlos Cuerpo Caballero.
"Today, the modernization of the railway system, including the modernization of corridors to TEN-T standards, and the renewal of rolling stock are extremely important for us. I would like to note that Ukraine, like Spain, uses a railway track that has a width different from the European standard gauge. Therefore, we are interested in your help in developing a system for automatically changing the track width in motion for trains. We seek to attract your technical and financial support to develop our railway," said Vasyl Shkurakov, Acting Minister of Community Development, Territories and Infrastructure of Ukraine.
He informed his Spanish colleagues that this year, Ukraine began building the Chop-Lviv Eurotrack (1,435 mm), which is part of the renewed Mediterranean corridor TEN-T. The implementation of this project will be one of the first steps of the Strategy for the European integration of the transport systems of Ukraine and Moldova and the development of TEN-T on the territory of Ukraine.
In turn, the Minister of Economy, Trade and Entrepreneurship of the Kingdom of Spain Carlos Cuerpo Caballero noted that cooperation with Ukraine is promising, taking into account the Spanish experience, and will be useful for both countries. According to him, the development of Eurotrack will be important.
"Ukraine will not just be physically connected to Europe - it will be a political movement towards Europe," Minister Caballero emphasized.
He also said that the Spanish side is ready to support the development of the railway financially, and has the relevant companies, experience and ready-made solutions.
The parties also discussed the attraction of direct investments in production in Ukraine, the development of Ukrainian seaports, patronage of Ukrainian cities and regions, energy needs, the establishment of direct ties between entrepreneurs of the two countries, and, when there will be safe conditions, the revival of tourism and air travel .