Public joint-stock company Ukrzaliznytsia would upgrade around 500 sleeping cars by the end of 2018, which is almost one sixth of the operating fleet, acting Board Chairman of Ukrzaliznytsia Yevhen Kravtsov said at a government meeting on Wednesdsay.

"By the end of this year Ukrzaliznytsia seeks to upgrade 188 passenger cars. Next year it is planned to modernize up to 310 cars more. This would allow upgrading up to 500 sleeping cars. This is almost one sixth of the operating fleet," he said.

He also said that this is the largest indicator for upgrade Ukrzaliznytsia seen in the past 15 years.

"I want to say that all cars are made and modernized at Ukrainian enterprises. This is a large order. It allows launching engineering sectors that had been idle in the past five or seven years," Kravtsov said.

He also said that out of 188 passenger cars that will be modernized by the end of this year 38 will be bought and 150 will be overhauled.

Ukrzaliznytsia will buy 60 cars out of 310 cars to be upgraded next year and overhauls 160 cars.

He said that in 2017-2018, the company seeks to modernize 252 electric train sections, which is 20% of the suburban fleet and buy 11 diesel trains in 2018-2019.