A pilot program of private freight trains will start in Ukraine this year

A pilot program of private freight trains will start in Ukraine this year, Minister Omelyan promises. Private fleets of freight cars are increasing, but private locomotives have been banned. After the Rada rejected a private train bill in December, the government submitted a new one on Jan. 31. Without going into details, Omelyan told the Kyiv region farmers: “This year, in the experimental mode, we are introducing private traction on the railroad.” Earlier, he told UNIAN the pilot program could involve a major international rail operator working on routes that are not profitable for Ukrzaliznytsia.