Ukrainian Railways adds fleet of new larger, handicap-accessible wagons

Ukrainian Railways ("Ukrzaliznytsia") received 100 new carriages, 37 of which are adapted for passengers with disabilities.

Oleksandr Shevchenko, deputy director of communications of Ukrzaliznytsia, talked about this in an interview with BZh.

The official noted that a significant space for storage had been provided for luggage in the new carriages.

"The lockers (closed space under the lower shelf) have disappeared, various restrictions have been removed, and now a full-fledged tourist backpack and an airline suitcase can fit there. There is a special barrier tape so that water and snow do not flow there.

These new carriages are more comfortable, hold much more luggage, and the conductor also has a safe where you can leave some personal belongings," the deputy director of the Ukrainian Railways emphasized.

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In addition, as the deputy director emphasized, six diesel trains are already running as regional express trains. Ukrzaliznytsia also overhauls passenger carriages and modernizes old electric trains.

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Shevchenko also said that UZ has a prototype of a capsule car, but there are no plans to put them into operation en masse yet.

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"Today, the specificity of the passenger transportation is that, for obvious reasons, many people travel with large luggage. And the capsule concept only provides a little space for suitcases; most space there is reserved purely for sleeping.

In addition, distances have changed in our country – there are currently no such long routes as Luhansk-Uzhhorod. This is temporary, of course, because the Armed Forces are returning our territories, but still," he stressed.

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Shevchenko emphasized that there is a single strategy that Ukrzaliznytsia adheres to.

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"At one time, we stated that Ukrzaliznytsia is the backbone of logistics in the country, and this paradigm is unlikely to change in the coming months or years.

We are preparing that we will have to ensure the movement and logistics of absolutely everything in the country – from cargo (and strategic, in particular) and mail, to passengers, diplomats, wounded persons, and people with disabilities," the official summarized.