In an important step towards rebuilding Ukraine’s railway infrastructure, Ukrainian Railways, Ukrzalizniția, has signed two agreements providing for technical assistance from Switzerland to support the rehabilitation and modernization of railway lines and power supply networks.
The two memoranda of understanding were concluded between the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), Ukrzaliznytsia, and Swiss companies Arthur Flury AG and Schwihag AG. Their purpose is clear—to implement projects that will develop and modernize Ukraine’s railway infrastructure. On behalf of SECO, the documents were signed by Ambassador Jacques Herber, the Swiss Federal Council’s special envoy for the reconstruction of Ukraine, who emphasized Switzerland’s ongoing commitment to helping rebuild and strengthen Ukraine’s railway infrastructure.
These agreements mark the moment when the projects selected through the First Reconstruction Project Competition in Ukraine, with the participation of the Swiss private sector, move from paper to actual implementation. Technical assistance from Switzerland involves the provision of essential materials for the rehabilitation of lines and the modernization of electrical networks, with the total value of the components estimated at approximately 29 million EUR, fully financed by the Swiss government.
Over the next three years, more than 1.04 million sets of rail fasteners will be delivered, enough to renew approximately 250 km of lines. For passengers, this work will mean a smoother and more comfortable ride, and for the railways, it will protect the rails from deformation and reduce vibrations.
Furthermore, as part of the program, Switzerland will deliver approximately 4,000 sets of sectional insulators for the contact network, covering approximately 36% of the entire network. These insulators make the system “modular,” allowing for the isolated repair of affected sections without stopping train traffic. Unlike the old, heavy, and fragile Soviet insulators, the new Swiss insulators are lighter and more durable, which means that trains can run without reducing speed.
The entire equipment package not only renews outdated infrastructure, but also creates a solid technological foundation for a resilient railway system capable of operating even in extreme conditions. Trains will be able to run faster, damage will be repaired promptly, and rail wear will be significantly reduced.
This collaboration with the Swiss private sector was made possible by an intergovernmental agreement signed between Ukraine and Switzerland in 2025. Previously, through such agreements, more than 1.8 million rail fasteners were supplied by Schwihag AG for the modernization of approximately 500 km of railway lines, with a total value exceeding 25 million EUR.
Thanks to the effective cooperation between Ukrzaliznytsia specialists and those of the Ministry of Development of Communities and Territories, the company became the first to sign a memorandum involving the Swiss private sector in reconstruction projects.
Modernization of lines with high-performance rails from Japan
In addition to Swiss support, Ukrzaliznytsia received 3,000 tons of high-tech R-65 rails from Nippon Steel, Japan’s leading manufacturer. Combined with modern equipment for welding and thermally joining joints, these rails enable the creation of seamless “velvet rails” with a longer service life and much smoother train traffic.
Currently, there is no domestic production of railway rails in Ukraine, as they were manufactured at the Azovstal plant in Mariupol, which was one of the largest steel plants in Ukraine. During the Russian invasion in 2022, Mariupol was one of the most affected cities, and Azovstal was occupied and severely damaged.
Thus, the delivery of Japanese rails is crucial for the functioning of the railway network. This was made possible thanks to constant collaboration and successful agreements with Japanese partners in the third phase of Ukraine’s reconstruction program.
Since the beginning of the war, Japan has supplied nearly 25,000 tons of rails, enabling the modernization of over 193 km of lines in regions such as the South, Southwest, and the cities of Lviv, Dnipro, and Odessa. With this new delivery, over 30 km of lines will be rehabilitated or replaced.
The rehabilitation of 225 km of lines is equivalent to the distance from Kyiv to Vinnytsia or from Lviv to Rivne. Thanks to JICA’s support, these lines now meet international quality and safety standards, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the railway infrastructure.
Previously, Ukrzaliznytsia received 24 modern construction and cargo handling machines from Komatsu, Toyota, and Sonalika, 22 of which are dedicated to railway works. This equipment—excavators, loaders, and bulldozers—has already accumulated over 13,000 hours of operation in emergency and repair work.
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