Ukrzaliznytsia preparing over 4,000 passenger carriages for winter

State Railways Administration Ukrzaliznytsia is preparing 4,239 passenger carriages for winter.

According to the press service of Ukrzaliznytsia, with reference to the chief engineer of the main passenger department, Yuriy Kebal, some Hr 100 million will be spent on the preparation of carriages for winter.

The level of passenger carriage depreciation at the department is 86% - half of the rolling stock was produced 30 years ago and cannot meet the modern standards of comfort and quality services.

Many carriages need depot repairs or overhauls. The depot repair of one carriage costs about Hr 85,000, and the overhaul of a wagon costs Hr 700,000. Some Hr 5,000-9,000 is spent on the repair of a wagon.

The railways plans this year to maintain 1,929 cars, 306 cars will undergo depot repairs and 104 - overhauls.

Ukrzaliznytsia noted that while preparing wagons for winter the railways check all the their systems, in particular, their heating systems.

The administration said its director general, Volodymyr Kozak, has repeatedly noted the critical deterioration of passenger rolling stock.

"Today one passenger carriage made of stainless steel produced by Kriukov Car Building Works costs about $2 million. We need to make purchases of $2 billion to upgrade the rolling stock. The railways will not be able to replace wagons without budget targeted support," Kozak said.