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Re: Ukraine Grain By Standard Gauge Rail?- I suspect that availability of cars and locos would be a bigger problem.
Author: Ernest H. Robl
Date: 06-17-2022 - 09:58
Bob2 has already made some good points.
But, if you really wanted to build new standard gauge tracks into Ukraine, this would be a project somewhat equivalent to the (multi-track) build-out of the Powder River Basin rail infrastructure, which was about a 10-15 year project, depending on what you pick as the start and end dates.
Rolling stock would be less of a problem, as there are now multiple large locomotive and railcar leasing operations in Europe (GATX is one of them) that have equipment that can be used in multiple countries. Initially, you would have to use diesel, as building electric infrastructure is itself a multi-year project.
So, while connecting Ukraine to Europe's standard gauge rail network will likely happen, this probably will not happen until the war comes to some kind of conclusion -- at which point the ports would also again be open -- at least partially (considering war damage).
-- Ernest
But, if you really wanted to build new standard gauge tracks into Ukraine, this would be a project somewhat equivalent to the (multi-track) build-out of the Powder River Basin rail infrastructure, which was about a 10-15 year project, depending on what you pick as the start and end dates.
Rolling stock would be less of a problem, as there are now multiple large locomotive and railcar leasing operations in Europe (GATX is one of them) that have equipment that can be used in multiple countries. Initially, you would have to use diesel, as building electric infrastructure is itself a multi-year project.
So, while connecting Ukraine to Europe's standard gauge rail network will likely happen, this probably will not happen until the war comes to some kind of conclusion -- at which point the ports would also again be open -- at least partially (considering war damage).
-- Ernest
