Roadmap for Railway Transport Reform Approved

On 25 September 2026, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved the Roadmap for the Reform of Railway Transport in Ukraine and adopted an action plan for its implementation.

The Roadmap is aimed at the gradual introduction of competition in the freight and passenger rail transportation market.

In particular, it sets out a sequence of changes necessary to establish a competitive and transparent railway transportation market in Ukraine, facilitate its gradual integration into the European transport system, and bring Ukrainian legislation closer to EU law.

The Roadmap provides for the following innovations:

Phased Liberalization to Introduce Competition

A gradual transition from the current model to a system in which different carriers will be able to operate under uniform and transparent rules is envisaged, while access to railway infrastructure will be provided on a non-discriminatory basis. Market opening will take place gradually, taking into account the specific characteristics of freight and passenger transportation, as well as separately for the 1,435 mm gauge network and the main 1,520 mm gauge network.

Transition to the European Safety and Interoperability System

Ukraine will introduce the rules and institutions necessary to ensure the technical compatibility of the Ukrainian railway system with the European system. This will include, in particular, safety requirements, operator certification, and the authorization of rolling stock.

New Model for Organizing Passenger Transportation

Socially important passenger services are to receive a transparent mechanism for organization and financing based on the PSO (Public Service Obligation) mechanism, replacing cross-subsidization through freight transportation.

Transparent Tariff Setting

The reform envisages establishing clear rules for charges for access to railway infrastructure, which is a necessary condition for introducing competition and attracting new operators.

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