Ukrainian Railways builds 1st grain carrier for Ukrainian, European track gauges

MOSCOW. Dec 18 (Interfax) - Ukrainian Railways (Ukrzaliznytsia) has used its own facilities to build a grain carrier adapted both for the wide 1,520-millimeter track gauge and for the European gauge of 1,435 mm, the Ukrainian media said, citing the company's statement.

"Ukraine has manufactured its first-ever grain carrier at Ukrzaliznytsia's production facilities, which is maximally adapted for cargo transportation on Ukrainian territory and for the 1,435 mm track gauge of European Union countries," Ukrzaliznytsia's general director Yevgeny Lyashchenko was quoted in the statement as saying.

Ukrzaliznytsia plans to start serial production of such railcars, he said.

The new development is a hopper car designed for the transportation of grains and other loose foods, the statement said. It can lift up to 70 tonnes of cargo and has a body capacity of 104 cubic meters, five loading hatches and six unloading hatches, and a design speed of 120 kilometers per hour.

Using the new railcar will help cut logistics costs and simplify the approval process for international rail transportation services because it complies with the requirements effective for the infrastructure of EU countries, Ukrzaliznytsia said.