Ukrzaliznytsia receives 2,000 tonnes of high-tech R-65 rails from Japanese manufacturer Nippon Steel
JSC Ukrzaliznytsia received 2,000 tonnes of high-tech R-65 rails from the Japanese manufacturer Nippon Steel, and another 1,000 tonnes are expected to be delivered by the end of January, the press release of the Ministry of Communities and Territories Development said on Thursday.
According to the release, the implementation of this cooperation became possible under the third phase of the Emergency Recovery Program through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
"This is the result of systematic engagement and successful agreements with Japanese partners by the ministry in early 2025. Ukraine currently has no domestic rail production, so partner support is necessary and critical for the functioning of the country’s railway system," the ministry said.
The cooperation currently provides for the transfer of 3,000 tonnes of rails with a total value of about $4 million, the release said.
The ministry explained that for welding rails directly on the tracks and for the thermal joining of rail joints, railway workers use mobile complexes, resulting in so-called “velvet track” with no joints, which extends service life and ensures smoother train movement.
"We are sincerely grateful to the Japanese government for its strategic support, which allows us not only to maintain the network but to carry out capital repairs to the highest global standards, ensuring reliable connections even in the most difficult times," Deputy Minister of Communities and Territories Development Martna Denysiuk was quoted as saying.
The Ministry of Communities and Territories Development recalled that support from the Japanese government and JICA has continued since the outset of Russia’s full-scale invasion. During that period, nearly 25,000 tonnes of rails have been delivered, enabling the modernization of more than 193 kilometers (120 miles) of track on strategic routes operated by the Lviv, Southwestern, Prydniprovska, Southern and Odesa railways.
In addition, railway workers received 24 units of construction and cargo-handling equipment manufactured by Komatsu, Toyota and Sonalika, including 22 units of track machinery. The total value of equipment and materials supplied under the first two phases of the program exceeded $42 million, the ministry said.
"The supplied equipment, including wheeled excavators, loaders and bulldozers, has already logged more than 13,000 operating hours in emergency repair and recovery work," the ministry said.