Ukrainian Railways dispatched its first rolling highway train to Poland carrying 13 tractors with semi-trailers. The preferred route for the service was the one linking Sknyliv (Ukraine) with Slawkow (Poland) via the Izov-Hrubeshiv border crossing using solely broad gauge tracks. The solution was implemented to tackle the weeks-long Polish-Ukrainian border blockade by protesting Polish truckers.

Ukrainian Railways reported that the solution is still not entirely up to speed and is in conversation with its partners to optimise the transit times. The company also mentioned that the service will be one of many since more trips will follow it in both directions. Transport Service Centre “Lisky” and UZ Cargo Poland are responsible for the service on each side of the border.

Also read: Polish truckers extend blockade on Ukrainian border, can rail help with shortages?

The border blockade

It’s been almost a month since protesting Polish truck drivers started implementing blocks on border crossings with Ukraine. The point that they make is that the increased influx of Ukrainian drivers and companies in Poland leads to a loss of business for the Polish trucking sector.

The blockade has affected three major border crossings between the two countries, and recently, it was extended to Medyka. Polish truckers block the border crossings with the help of Polish farmers who have made their intentions towards their Ukrainian counterparts clear long ago.

Some of the latest reports on the topic spoke of thousands of trucks piling up on the borders between the two countries, with Ukraine requesting the EU to intervene and set up a monitoring group to take control of the problem. That is also because Ukrainian imports and exports where further disrupted by the situation, which has impacted the flow of humanitarian logistics, grain exports and fuel imports in the country, among other things.