Revival of Railway Connection between Ukraine and Moldova
On March 31, during an online meeting, Deputy Minister for Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine Andriy Kashuba spoke with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure of Moldova, Vladimir Bole. The main topic of discussion was the restoration of passenger railway services between Odessa and Chisinau, as well as the transit of Moldovan freight wagons through Ukraine. This was reported by the Ministry of Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine, as cited by «South Today».
Also participating in the meeting were the chairman of Ukrzaliznytsia, Oleksandr Pertzovsky, the head of the railway transport department, Oleksandr Fedorenko, the Secretary of State of the Ministry of Infrastructure of Moldova, Peskalutze Mircha, and the acting general director of «Railways of Moldova», Sergey Kotelinik.
The Ukrainian side emphasized the importance of developing international railway transport with Moldova, highlighting the need to consider security and economic factors.
«Ukraine and Moldova are not just neighbors but reliable partners united by common European aspirations and a strategic vision for infrastructure development. We are confident that the revival of the Odessa – Chisinau train will enhance transport accessibility and economic ties between our countries. However, we must take into account all security risks,» said Deputy Minister Andriy Kashuba.
The Ukrainian side also stressed the necessity of a detailed analysis of the economic feasibility of resuming the connection. This includes assessing passenger traffic, infrastructure usage costs, and potential transportation tariffs, which will allow for a well-founded decision regarding the launch of the route.
Another issue discussed during the meeting was the restoration of transit for Moldovan freight wagons through Ukraine. The Ukrainian side confirmed that there are no restrictions on their movement. Temporary difficulties in exchanging technical information arose due to a massive cyber-attack on the information systems of JSC «Ukrzaliznytsia» on March 23.
«Currently, active work is underway to restore stable system operation. The Ukrainian side is ready to ensure full data exchange regarding Moldovan wagons immediately after the completion of technical recovery measures,» the ministry reports.
In conclusion, it was noted that the parties agreed to continue working on all issues and maintain close communication for the further development of railway connections between Ukraine and Moldova.
