My 2 days at #InnoTrans2022 are over. Great days, fully packed with back-to-back meetings and events. Leaving #Berlin with a heavy heart.
Warning: long🧵ahead!
I came to #Berlin right after spending 3 days in #Kharkiv. Drastic difference between constantly shelled Kharkiv and flourishing Berlin. But for me personally its much more comfortable to be in eastern Ukraine, together with my people under fire, rather than in a peaceful Berlin.
But have to throw the track to EU for @Ukrzaliznytsia. Ukraine made its choice - we head to EU, and UZ will join European railways family. This integration will take years, but there is no other way. We start #IronEurointegration.
In my speech on #InnoTrans2022 opening ceremony, I stressed on the importance of railways for the country’s security. And assured all the honorable guests that UZ will join the network of EU railways, bringing in not only strongest resilience, but numerous business opportunities.
Would like to thank Polish railways @PKP_SA and its Chairman @maminski_k for generously hosting @Ukrzaliznytsia at PKP stand. This war made us very frugal, and saving money even for a booth was important for me. And that’s where PKP supported us, again. Dziekuje!
Signed MOU with @maminski_k on establishing JV for cargo transportation on European side between @PKP_SA and @Ukrzaliznytsia. Sure that will help Ukrainian cargo owners to get better service in EU. And for PKP that means more business in cargo. Win-win.
Signed MOU with Dr. Richard Lutz, CEO of @DB_Presse on further steady development of relations. DB was an important partner for UZ before the war, helping much during the war, and we are happy to strengthen our further cooperation.
My very special thanks goes to Dr. Richard Lutz, CEO of @DB_Presse. He arranged the warmest reception for us in Berlin and strongly assured further support. So nice to feel you are genuinely welcomed. Forgot that feeling, honestly speaking. Vielen Dank!
Was happy to see again Niko Warbanoff and Dr. Sigrid Nikutta. Their branches DB Engineering&Consulting and @DB_Cargo are those with whom we’ll have pretty much work in the nearest time.
Strongest assurances of further support from politicians as well. German transport minister @Wissing, EU Commissioner @AdinaValean and Director General Henrik Hololei @Transport_EU - all #StandWithUkraine and UZ.
Spoke about #Leadership on Rail Leaders Summit 2022. Our President @ZelenskyyUa said one day “I need ammo, not a ride”. I thanked everyone for helping Ukraine, and reminded that we are hard-working and robust people, and will join EU bringing in numerous opportunities.
Hosted Ukrainian Gratitude Breakfast at @InnoTrans2022 and gathered our strongest international supporters. But that deserves a separate story, trust me. Promise to tell later.
Leaving #Berlin right before the arrival of new wave of city visitors - @berlinmarathon runners. Great city never stops and #KeepsRunning. Just like Ukrainian railways :)
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1. Why we urgently restore infra during the war? Because otherwise we would simply stop at day 1 of the war. And thus, neither evacuation, nor humanitarian aid delivery, nor #IronDiplomacy program, nothing would work. Just imagine that.
2. Recovery occurs during enemy missile attacks? Yes. Actually our life occurs during enemy missile attacks. Already 204 days.
Another day when we tried to restore railway connection to recently retaken Town B, but failed again. Have a sit.
The morning was perfect. 3km morning run in #Kharkiv under the rain.
The rest of my morning I spent at the station. #Kharkiv was blackouted again. I ensured that trains depart on time and the station is illuminated. I believe on a day like today, people must see that railways remain fully operational. That's about trust.
Today I failed. I've done everything possible and slightly more, but failed. My plan was to get to recently retaken Town B. by train. But no success. It was a long long day. So listen to the story.
I took this railcar to get there. That's a service railcar that carries our track repair crews.
These lines where closed 11 and 15 years ago respectively.
Now Romanian Railways has to do it's job and rehabilitate 16km on Romanian side. And then we will have another acting border connection for cargo and passenger transportation.
Why this project is important for cargo transportation?
As of today we have 2 border connections with Romania, and that's where we have the highest waiting line. Adding this new border connection we can add up to 6 more trains a day, that's another 3,5 million tons of cargo p.a.