Ukraine plans to purchase 20 Korean-made high-speed electric trains. This was discussed during a meeting in Seoul between Minister of Community and Territorial Development Oleksiy Kuleba with Eximbank Korea board member Hwang Ki-yeon and representatives of the Economic Development and Cooperation Fund of the Republic of Korea (EDCF).
The purchase of such trains will make it possible to significantly increase the passenger flow, overcome the shortage of seats in peak periods, update the rolling stock of “Ukrzaliznytsia” and make travel faster and more comfortable. The ministry emphasized that this is especially important now, when Russian strikes are destroying wagons and locomotives, in particular, the Intercity train was recently damaged.
“Ukrainian railways today fulfill a unique role – it is mobility for millions of people, the delivery of humanitarian and other goods, medical and evacuation transportation. Cooperation with Korean partners opens the way to the creation of a modern and sustainable transportation system. It is important for us that the purchase of new electric trains takes place through a transparent and open competition among companies,” Oleksiy Kuleba stressed.
According to him, the purchase of new electric trains should be carried out through an open and transparent tender. The agency also reminded that Korea has opened a framework opportunity for preferential financing of up to 2.1 billion US dollars for Ukraine for the years 2024-2029.
