S. Korean railway firms sign MOU with Ukraine for railway reconstruction projects

▲ This photo, provided by South Korea's land ministry on Nov. 22, 2023, shows officials from the ministry and railway companies visiting Ukraine. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

S Korea-Ukraine reconstruction

S. Korean railway firms sign MOU with Ukraine for railway reconstruction projects

SEJONG, Nov. 22 (Yonhap) -- A group of South Korean railway companies signed an initial agreement with Ukraine's railway operator to cooperate in the war-torn nation's railroad reconstruction projects, Seoul's transport ministry said Wednesday.

Officials from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the state-run railway operator Korea Railroad Corp. (KORAIL) and the Korea National Railway (KNR) were on a three-day visit to Kyiv starting Monday to discuss the reconstruction project, according to the ministry.

During the visit, KORAIL and KNR signed a memorandum of understanding with Ukraine's railway operator to join hands in the European country's seven railway reconstruction projects.

The seven projects include building an express railway in the border area connecting Ukraine and neighboring Poland, increasing the capacity of existing railways connecting Ukraine's three southern cities -- Odesa, Izmail and Reni -- and building a new railway traffic control center.

KNR will take the lead in conducting a preliminary feasibility study on the projects and constructing railways, while KORAIL will focus on the operation of the express railroad and maintenance of the trains.

Hyundai-Rotem Co., a train manufacturer, will head the production of new railroad cars, their upkeep and the construction of a maintenance facility, according to the ministry.

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