Ukraine Declaration: European Rail sends strong signal of  solidarity and support



(Vienna, 8th July 2022) – The Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies, CER, is currently holding its annual CEO Summit in Vienna. Around 30 railway bosses accepted the invitation of Andreas Matthä, ÖBB CEO and President of the European Railway Association CER, to exchange views on current industry topics. Digitalisation and the war in Ukraine are the main focusses of the 2022 Summit.

For this reason, in a joint statement, the rail CEOs pledged solidarity and support for Ukraine - especially for Ukrainian Railways.

The Ukraine declaration was presented ahead of the two-day summit by Andreas Matthä, CEO of ÖBB and President of the European Railway Association CER, Krzysztof Mamiński, CEO of Polish State Railways and President of the International Union of Railways (Union Internationale des Chemins de fer) UIC and CER Vice-Chair, and Richard Lutz, CEO of Deutsche Bahn and CER Vice-Chair.

The Ukrainian Ambassador to Austria, Vasyl Khymynets, represented Ukraine and emphasised the relevance of the declaration.

Joint declaration as a clear signal

The joint declaration emphasises the solidarity of the partner railways in Europe as well as common European values. On top of this, the Rail-CEOs want to clearly emphasise the importance of the Ukrainian rail infrastructure as the backbone of the humanitarian corridor for displaced people and aid supplies such as food and medical products. This is just one reason why the European railways want to continue to show support and solidarity with Ukrainian Railways.

As the chairman of the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies, ÖBB CEO Mättha emphasises: “Our Ukrainian Railway colleagues work every day under unimaginable conditions and risk their lives. They need our support so that rail traffic in Ukraine can continue to run. Therefore it is only right and logical that we as European railways send a strong signal and all commit ourselves to help, across all national borders and gauges”.

European railways have already been actively involved in transporting displaced persons, as well as providing them with supplies, and several joint initiatives have also been successfully implemented for the delivery of relief goods. Due to the restructuring of traffic flows, the railways are also facing particular challenges in freight transport, especially in the transport of raw materials and grain, and are relying on cooperation in this area.

Krzysztof Mamiński, CEO of Polish State Railways and UIC President, reports: “Polish Railways were the first in Europe to feel the effects of the situation in Ukraine. Already in the first days after the attack by Russia, our trains, which number was increased due to influx of passengers, were used by Ukrainians fleeing the war. For a long time, we enabled refugees to travel around the country and to neighboring countries free of charge. Reception points were set up at our train stations, especially at the border and in major cities, which were the first stops on the way to a safe world. Today new challenges lie ahead – that is helping in transporting goods from Ukraine and rebuilding Ukraine's infrastructure after the war.”

Railways want to help with technical material and know-how

The European railway bosses are in agreement that they must work together to rebuild the railways and their infrastructure after the end of the war. The railways want to contribute to this with urgently needed materials but also with technical know-how.

Richard Lutz, CEO of Deutsche Bahn and CER Vice-Chair, explains: “The Ukrainian Railway workers are currently doing a very impressive job. They are keeping their country running. In spite of the repeated attacks on routes and stations, rail operations continue. Due to the fact that a functioning railway system will be the key to the country's future rebuild, Ukraine needs sufficient funding and, alongside the process of admission into the EU, integration into the trans-European transport network.”

"Rebuild Ukraine" fund to support rebuild

In addition to this, the European railways are united in appealing to the EU to establish a "Rebuild Ukraine" fund. Here, funds should be made available quickly and unbureaucratically specifically for the railways and rail infrastructure in Ukraine. After all, a functioning European rail network is essential for a functioning European economy.

Ukrainian ambassador thanks for commitment

Ambassador Vasyl Khymynets expressed his gratitude for the commitment of the European railways and emphasized: "As a critical infrastructure, the railway network is the backbone for Ukraine. The railway is used to transport the passengers and goods that are so important for our country. I am therefore very grateful that the Ukrainian Railways have received comprehensive support from the other European railways since the beginning of the terrible war and that there is, thanks to the declaration, now also a further joint commitment to this from the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies."