Newag to deliver diesel locomotives to Ukraine

Newag and Ski­nest Ukra­ine have signed a fra­me­work agre­ement to coope­ra­te in moder­ni­zing die­sel loco­mo­ti­ves, the company reported. For the pur­pose of this pro­ject and to cater for the con­trac­ting authority’s spe­ci­fic needs, Newag has desi­gned a brand-new loco­mo­tive, a press release read. "The design and tech­no­logy works have prac­ti­cally been com­ple­ted," Zbi­gniew Konie­czek, Newag's CEO pointed out. "Ukra­ine may rece­ive seve­ral dozen moder­ni­sed die­sel loco­mo­ti­ves as early as next year." The pro­ject is to be financed from Polish export sup­port funds and with the par­ti­ci­pa­tion of com­mer­cial lenders. Nearly 80% of goods in Ukra­ine are trans­por­ted by rail and the rol­ling stock wear rate has reached 80%. Experts esti­mate the Ukra­inian mar­ket needs bewteen 150 and 200 modernized locomotives.