Introduction. Rail transport has been and remains the main mode for cargo transportation in Ukraine. At the same time, due to the military aggression against Ukraine, air transport, which was used for most international passenger transportation, has not been available since February 2022. Shipping remains partially closed due to the aggressor's blockade of Ukrainian seaports and canals. This makes it important to ensure the sustainable functioning of alternative land routes to the EU, as well as the organization of cargo and passenger transportation in cooperation with European countries.
Problem Statement. Given the different gauge size from most EU neighboring countries, projects aimed at increasing throughput and freight capacity with the European Union by developing a 1 435 mm gauge railway network (Euro gauge) in Ukraine, as well as organizing multimodal terminals at the border and infrastructure for transferring bogies are of particular importance.
Purpose. Analysis of initiatives and priorities for the development of the 1 435 mm gauge (European gauge) railway network in Ukraine.
Materials and methods. The article uses the materials of the strategy for the integration of the Ukrainian and Moldovan railway systems into the EU, developed by JASPERS experts, the State Strategy for the Development and Construction of Border Infrastructure with the European Union and the Republic of Moldova until 2030, as well as the own statistics of JSC “Ukrainian Railways”. With the help of technical and economic analysis, synthesis and classification, as well as generalization of the accumulated information, the ways of development of the European gauge (1 435 mm) in Ukraine were investigated, and the necessary conclusions were reached regarding the choice of options for the implementation of the European gauge in Ukraine.
Results. The authors analyze possible scenarios for the development of the European gauge in Ukraine and propose three priorities for discussion with a cost estimate of implementation based on the input of JASPERS experts.
Conclusions. The transformation of existing railroad corridors by building a parallel 1 435 mm gauge network should facilitate Ukraine's integration into the European transport space by improving connectivity with the EU and increasing the capacity of new export corridors. At the same time, from an economic and technical point of view, a full transition to a 1 435 mm gauge is not currently feasible. The development of the 1 435 mm gauge railway network in Ukraine should be carried out in stages, as the construction of public infrastructure for general use requires significant funding. Funds from international financial organizations, the state budget and foreign governments can be used to cover future construction projects.
