Sector associations of industrialists and farmers criticize Ukrzaliznytsia for lack of rolling stock

Large sector associations and unions of industrial and farming enterprises have sharply criticized public joint-stock company Ukrzaliznytsia due to the critical situation with cargo transportation due to a lack of wagons, diesel locomotives and diesel fuel, which forces enterprises to cut production and leads to the failure to implement contracts and seeing less currency income.

Chairman of the Federation of Metal Companies of Ukraine Serhiy Bilenky, President of Ukrmetallurgprom Oleksandr Kalenko, President of Ukrainian Grain Association Volodymyr Klymenko, President of the Ukrainian Chemists Union Oleksiy Holubov, Executive Director of the Ukrainian Association of Ferroalloy and Other Electrometallurgical Products Manufacturers Serhiy Kudriavtsev and Executive Director of the Ukrcement association Roman Skylsky said that the situation with the provision of transportation by rail is crucial.

Heads of the associations and unions sent a letter to Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman on October 5 and its copies to heads of the profile parliamentary committee for industrial policy, transport, the infrastructure minister and Ukrzaliznytsia board chairman asking to urgently settle the situation with transportation.

The industrialists and farmers pointed out the permanent lack of rolling stock. Production volumes and exports revenue are falling, the contracts with consumers are failed. Workers receive smaller wages. Social tension among employees is growing.

The associations ask the prime minister to draw up and adopt a mechanism for equal access to Ukrzaliznytsia's wagons and introduce the practice of fair and transparent monthly distribution of gondola cars between cargo dispatchers and to consider the use of rolling stock of other railway operators.

It is proposed to hold negotiations with the railway transport department of Belarus to use up to 3,000 gondola cars of Belarusian owners in Ukraine and supervise the use of special-purpose wagons (cement hoppers, grain carriers) so that they are used only for their purposes.

It is proposed to draft measures of tough control over the terms of cargo delivery and responsibility of Ukrzaliznytsia for violation of the requirements.