EU-Trans LLC repaired 79 freight wagons in 2025, equal to 21% of its fleet, and reallocated grain wagons to alternative traffic following a halt in grain transport, amid a difficult year for rail freight in Ukraine.
The 2025 repair programme included 32 wagons undergoing major repairs (KR) and 47 depot repairs (DR). Twenty-one wagons received complete wheelset replacement. The repaired fleet comprised 11 wood chip wagons, two timber wagons, 24 gondola wagons and 42 fitting platforms, with work carried out at facilities operated by long-standing contractors.
In July, EU-Trans redirected its own grain wagons to crushed stone transport after grain shipments stopped entirely. The company reported that the change allowed it to maintain wagon utilisation and revenue from the fleet. Earlier in the year, EU-Trans received compensation from a Polish insurance company following the derailment of an EU-Trans-owned gondola wagon.
During 2025, EU-Trans also took part in several industry and regulatory processes. Company representatives attended rail transport conferences in Kyiv and Munich, participated in discussions with Ukrzaliznytsia management on the future of wagon repair activities, and raised contractual issues with the UZ Wagon-Service branch through the Business Ombudsman Council. Toward the end of the year, Order No. 647 governing the extension of freight wagon service life was cancelled, leaving the sector without a formal regulatory framework while a new procedure is prepared.
In 2026, EU-Trans plans to repair 164 wagons, corresponding to 43% of its fleet, with a significant share of works scheduled for December. The company is also developing its own safety management system to obtain certification and prepare for the implementation of interoperability legislation and the introduction of private traction in Ukraine. In parallel, EU-Trans plans to prepare design documentation to modernise timber wagons and platforms to enable the transport of two-metre timber.
Separately, data published by Ukrzaliznytsia show that intermodal rail transport volumes in Ukraine reached 241,582 TEU in 2025, down six percent year on year. Exports accounted for 59% of container traffic, followed by imports at 30% and domestic movements at 11%, with no transit traffic recorded. Grain remained the largest containerised commodity despite a 20% decline compared with 2024, reflecting increased use of specialised grain wagons and a shift of exports toward Ukrainian seaports.
