The German national rail freight operator DB Cargo has opened a representative office in Ukraine. Its stated aim is to use rail to aid the country’s economic recovery.
DB Cargo wants to connect the Ukrainian economy more closely to European supply chains through its newly opened office in the capital city Kyiv. The newly established DB Cargo representation will coordinate multimodal transport and logistics requirements for European companies, the freight operator says.
From an operational perspective, the objective is to organise reliable supply chains for industry, trade, infrastructure and aid projects, and to improve links with the European Economic Area, DB Cargo adds.
“Our opening of a new office in Ukraine speaks for the fact that we are taking responsibility for civilian logistics. We will connect Ukraine with Europe and consistently tailor our logistics services to aid the country’s recovery. Our customers have a single point of contact that combines local expertise in Ukraine with DB Cargo’s European network,” said a DB spokesperson.
DB Cargo’s subsidiary TRANSA Spedition GmbH operates the Full Load Solutions Ukraine representative office. It acts as a bridge between Ukraine and the European Economic Area, says DB.
Ukrainian efforts
Ukraine, for its part, has also been trying to tighten its rail connections with the EU. It is working on improved infrastructure towards EU Member States, including standard-gauge infrastructure. The vast majority of Ukraine’s rail network consists of broad-gauge rail.
For example, Ukraine completed a 22-kilometre standard-gauge railway between Chop and Uzhhorod, which connects the country to Slovakia and Hungary. Kyiv also received around 70 million euros in EU funding for a standard-gauge railway between Lviv and Poland.
