Ukrainian Railways plans to finish building Chop-Uzhgorod 22 km European-gauge rail line until July 2025

MOSCOW Aug 29 (Interfax) - Ukrainian Railways plans to complete the construction of a European-gauge (1,435 mm) rail line from Chop to Uzhgorod until July 2025, Ukrainian media outlets said, citing the company's statement on social media.

The project to build a 22-kilometer European-standard railway also includes an overhaul of related facilities and utility system, the installation of a two-way lock-and-block system and microprocessor-based dispatch centralization devices, it said.

The project carries a price tag of 1.3 billion hryvni, of which 50% is financed by the European Union's Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).

Railroad construction specialists are assembling the track panel (rails and sleepers) using their own equipment, Ukrainian Railways said. Repairs at facilities along the railroad section are also continuing.

Builders cleared away underbrush and bushes and fixed the Strumkovka station's rail line no. 2 to allow the passage of track construction machines as part of preparations.

As previously reported, Ukrainian Railways received the chance to build a 22-kilometer European-gauge rail line between Chop and Uzhgorod by successfully passing the CEF's projects selection process in 2022.