Public joint-stock company Ukrzaliznytsia has called on transport market players to design their plans for cargo transportation for medium term outlook – three years- and submit proposals, taking into account concrete months, as this trend is line with the policy of the Ukrainian government on the introduction of the medium-term budget planning.

Acting Board Chairman of Ukrzaliznytsia Yevhen Kravtsov said at a meeting with businessmen at the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine on Monday that Ukrzaliznytsia has already created a monthly cargo plan for 2018. It takes into account the factors influencing the volume changes in specific periods: GDP level, seasonality of traffic, increase in imports, crop harvests, change of transportation routes, and other things. Ukrzaliznytsia suggests creating a prospective three-year cargo transportation plan taking the monthly plan for 2018 as an example.

According to him, this will improve the provision of necessary volumes of transportation, make them more precise and predictable, and it will help rationally use the rolling stock.

In addition, Kravtsov said that in connection with the introduction of amendments to the Budget Code of Ukraine introducing medium-term budget planning (for three years) in the country on a permanent basis, Ukrzaliznytsia initiates the joint preparation for planning the volume of freight transportation by rail for 2018 -2020.

The press service of Ukrzaliznytsia said that it is expected that in 2018, 347.5 million tonnes of cargo will be transported by rail in Ukraine, which will exceed the last year's volumes by 2.3%. The growth in transportation volumes is influenced by the level of GDP, especially in exports (3% up), domestic transportation of goods (1.5% up), and other factors.

Until February 19, Ukrzaliznytsia expects that customers would offer proposals for adjusting the monthly transportation plan for 2018 in order to have a more complete and unbiased overall picture.