PJSC Ukrzaliznytsia has launched the regular container train Odesa port-Dnipro-Lisky-Odesa port, the company has reported on its website.

The first trip of the train was started on July 31 from Odesa port and on August 1 it arrived to Dnipro-Vantazhny station. Packaging materials were shipped in containers.

Acting Ukrzaliznytsia Board Chairman Yevhen Kravtsov said that demand on container transportation by rail is increasing rapidly, and Ukrzaliznytsia offers new routes to its clients.

"In the first half of this year, Ukrzaliznytsia transported more than 143,500 0 containers, which is 23% more than in the same period of 2017. The growth of transportation is due to the competitive speed of delivery of goods regardless of weather conditions," he said.

The new train will run in test mode on Tuesdays with departure from Odesa Port station at 13:00 and arrival at the Dnipro-Vantazhny station on the next day at 8:29. The train will return on Monday from Dnipro-Vantazhny station at 2:50 and arrive on the same day at 19:37.

In the future, if there is demand, Ukrzaliznytsia will consider the possibility of transferring this train to daily trips.

According to Kravtsov, for today the share of container transportation among other transportations by rail is 1.5% and this figure is planned to increase.

According to Ukrzaliznytsia, the bulk of containers on the territory of Ukraine are transported for exports, their share is 40% of the total traffic volume (for the last five years, the share of exports was 33%).

In the general container turnover, the share of container traffic on domestic routes is 18%.