Rail Force One is the overnight train that took US President Biden on his diplomatic odyssey from Przemyl Gówny to Kyiv. US President Biden visited Ukraine to explore the historic areas, as it was the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion. The overnight journey of 10 hours was top secret with high security for Ukrainian Railways has become the breaking news headlines.
The train that carried diplomats
As the commercial air links to Ukraine were canceled and it seemed risky to fly the politicians into the country, it turned out that Ukraine’s rail network was the safest option. There had been 200 foreign diplomatic missions that were carried out in the country by this train. Canada’s Justin Trudeau, France’s Emmanuel Macron, the UK’s Rishi Sunak, and Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, to name some, had traveled by train to Kyiv. Even Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is planning to visit the country soon by train.
President Volodymyr Zelensky also uses the railway network regularly during his diplomatic missions abroad. However, this was not the only thing associated with the Rail Force One. The high-profile journey of the US president became the highlight of Ukraine’s vast rail network, which crisscrossed more than 150000 miles. It was placed among the 12 largest ones in the world. Ukrzaliznytsia stands in the sixth position as the largest rail passenger transporter, and for freight, it stands in the seventh position.
This train was first constructed during pre-Soviet times when its network was predominantly a broad gauge railway, which was different from the standard gauge that is used in most of Europe. Ukraine’s forces have disconnected the cross-border links with Russia, but the rail network is still connected with other counties, even if the differing gauges mean the train may not cross the border. To deal with this issue, the team has created sections over the past few years, for countries like Romania, Poland, and Moldova. Eleven border crossings have improved infrastructure.
The prominence that Ukraine received during Biden’s visit
It’s impressive to see how smoothly Ukrzaliznytsia, the state-owned railway company of Ukraine, operates, especially considering the challenges and obstacles many transportation networks face.
By demonstrating its ability to smoothly handle high-level visits, such as President Biden’s trip to Ukraine, Ukrzaliznytsia is showing the world that Ukraine is modern and capable with a transportation network that can meet the needs of its people and visitors alike.
It could also have positive implications for Ukraine’s economy and international relationships, as it demonstrates the country’s commitment to investing in and maintaining its infrastructure. Overall, it’s a promising sign for the future of Ukraine and its people.
What have experts got to say?
Ukrzaliznytsia’s CEO, Alexander Kamyshin, shared with the media that pre-war, there were different transportation services like cars, planes, trains, and buses. Sleeper trains can be a great way to travel across Ukraine, especially for longer distances. They offer the convenience to sleep and rest during your journey, so you arrive at your destination refreshed. Trains were more comfortable earlier, but post-war it has also become the safest option for travel.
It’s impressive to see how trains in Ukraine have been able to serve multiple purposes beyond just transportation. Converting some trains into medical facilities to help treat people in need is a creative and effective use of resources, especially in times of crisis.
Conclusion:
It is not just about ensuring passenger journeys are easy. Rather, it is important for freight and to stay connected with other worlds, as many depend on Ukrainian produce, which includes grain. Estimation says nearly 60 million tons of goods are transported from Ukraine. The company also transports 17.1 million passengers by long-distance train, which offers sleeper services.
Overall, these breaking news headlines show the versatility and resilience of the rail network in Ukraine and its role in supporting the country’s infrastructure and people, even in challenging times.