Ukraine Railways gets 55 urgently needed locomotives
Ukraine Railways is finally renewing part of its worn-out traction fleet, securing 55 urgently needed electric locomotives — a move seen as essential to keep the country’s export corridors functioning under wartime pressure.
Ukraine’s electric locomotive fleet has an average age of 46 years and a reported wear rate of 96 percent. A “96 percent wear rate” indicates that most units have exceeded their design life: they can still run, but only with intensive maintenance, rising failure rates and restricted operational reliability. This leaves Ukraine’s export corridors exposed to bottlenecks at a time when freight capacity is strategically vital.
International financing unlocks the order
The contract covers 55 new dual-system electric locomotives from Alstom, enabled by a joint financing package from the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
According to an Alstom press release, the international support reduces Ukraine Railways’ own contribution by roughly 37 percent and allows the operator to proceed with a long-delayed modernisation step it could not fund alone. The agreement was signed in the presence of French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, underscoring its strategic importance.
The EUR 470–473 million deal will replace around 80 ageing electric locomotives and marks the first major renewal of Ukraine’s electric freight fleet in roughly 15 years. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in Q1 2027 and conclude in 2029, creating a gradual but significant transition to a more dependable traction base.
A substantial upgrade
Technically, the new units represent a substantial upgrade. With 9,000 kW of power, 800 kN starting tractive effort and a maximum speed of 120 km/h, they can haul trains up to 30 percent heavier than today’s fleet. Their maintenance interval — once every 37 days rather than every three — could raise operational readiness to around 95 percent while cutting operating costs by more than 30 percent.
Strategically, the dual-system capability will reduce traction changes on key east–west freight corridors and shorten transit times to ports. Ukraine Railways has warned that its ageing traction fleet risks annual freight-revenue losses of up to 10 percent; the new locomotives directly address that vulnerability while supporting future interoperability with EU-standard corridors toward Poland and Romania.
Alstom and Ukraine Railways are also preparing a domestic industrial component. A workshop with Ukrainian suppliers is planned for Q1 2026, focused on safety systems, cabling, cooling equipment, brake components and wheelsets — part of a long-term plan to embed local capability in the service cycle.
Why it matters: Ukraine strengthens the resilience of its export corridors under wartime pressure.
System shift: A long-delayed renewal of the electric freight fleet begins after 15 years.
Photo: Alstom’s dual-system locomotive platform, similar to the units ordered by Ukraine Railways. Credit: Alstom.