Global Ukraine Rail Task Force
After Russia’s unprovoked and brutal invasion of Ukraine, one thing became immediately clear: the critical role of the Ukrainian and European rail systems in evacuating refugees as well as transporting humanitarian aid and agricultural produce.
This is why the Global Ukraine Task Force was set up fast, in order to coordinate technical, mechanical, and policy support for Ukrainian freight and passenger rail companies as well as refugee trains. More details on the Task Force's objectives can be found further below.
In addition, the Task Force is working together with WE AID - founded by Phineo, the German branch of the leading charitable organization United Way - on a donation campaign to raise funds for the Ukrainian railways system in this crisis.
DONATION CAMPAIGN
First and second distribution of the proceeds collected under the donation campaign
In total, more than 300.000 US Dollars were collected thanks to the generosity of the donors. The proceeds were sent to the Trade Union of Railwaymen and Transport Construction of JSC Ukrainian Railway to be used to purchase 6300 food packages and 18.000 bottles of drinking water that were shipped and delivered to railway workers and their families at the frontline and newly liberated territories of Ukraine (Kharkiv, Kupyansk, Bakhmut, Kherson, Nikopol, Marhanets, Izyum, Konotop, Bakhmach, Khutir-Mikhailivsky, Chernihiv, etc.). The food packages consist of: flour, pasta, rice, corn and wheat grits, oil, canned fish and meat, pate, tea, sugar and biscuits.
The Global Ukraine Rail Task Force would like to wholeheartedly thank all the generous donors who contributed, especially the UK association Rail Partners, Norway’s infrastructure manager Bane NOR, United Way’s “United for Ukraine” fund and Swedish Railways SJ.
In addition, the Global Ukraine Rail Task Force would like to thank the wonderful people of the Task Force’s partner WE AID for their tireless efforts and dedication in helping us running this donation campaign and making sure that the proceeds reach the Ukrainian railway workers.
Donate online
You can still donate in Euros, British pounds, US dollars, Norwegian kroner and Swedish crowns on WE-AID's website:
https://www.we-aid.org/en/initiatives/allrail-support-ukraine-rail-task-force/
Once there, please click on 
to make a payment with any credit card or debit card, and not only with Paypal.
Bank transfer
There is also a bank account for our campaign. Monies from any currency can be paid to:
Account Holder: WE AID gGmbH (Note: WE AID gGmbH is handling this initiative's donations)
IBAN: DE48100205000001838801
SWIFT/BIC: BFSWDE33BER
Use Keyword: UKRAINERAIL
Bank name: Bank für Sozialwirtschaft Aktiengesellschaft
Bank address: Konrad Adenauer-Ufer 85, 50668 Köln (Cologne), Germany
Telephone: +49 (0) 221 97356-0
MORE DETAILS ABOUT GLOBAL UKRAINE RAIL TASK FORCE
The primary aim of the Global Ukraine Rail Task Force is to provide a roundtable to analyse the impact of Russia’s aggressive invasion on Ukraine’s rail sector and to seek solutions. The twin goals are to address the humanitarian crisis enveloping the rail sector as well as rebuilding the rail infrastructure to replace war damage and meet the long term needs of a democratic Ukraine linked to the European Union.
THE TASKFORCE'S FOUR OBJECTIVES
The Task Force will work with political stakeholders and reach out to experts in the international rail community to implement our core objectives, providing cross-functional expertise. The Task Force will vet obstacles and attempt to identify practical solutions through our members as well as governmental and industry allies.
Our Four Objectives are:
- Address the humanitarian crisis. This starts with a commitment to i) support railway employees and their families who are suffering from the invasion; ii) to rescue and place Ukrainian refugees through the mobilization of special chartered trains that take people out and bring supplies back in.
- Rebuild the Rail Sector Infrastructure. In the short term the destroyed track, bridges and electricity sub-stations must be replaced.
- Address Passenger Rail Capacity. Increase of commuter and passenger rail capacity, on both domestic and international routes, as the best way to move people in the coming years. Reduction of dependency on air and highways for personal travel will underly a plan to expand commuter and intercity passenger rail growth both in the short term and long term.
- Maximize Freight Capacity. A primary focus will be on continuing quick rehabilitation of infrastructure (Task Force Objective 2) as well as technologies and improvements necessary to expand the throughput of all goods. This includes grain, oil, metals, and ore supplies towards the EU for maximum replacement of current Russian exports; and fuel also in the reverse direction where Ukraine is in need.
ACTION ITEMS
- Preliminary Study of the long-term goal of the best use of the Ukrainian Rail Sector in the movement of grain;
- Preliminary Study of best use of rail in movement of fuel;
- Facilitate allocation of 1435 mm rolling stock and increase the capacity of the European forwarders / terminals.
STRUCTURE OF THE GLOBAL UKRAINE RAIL TASK FORCE
The Task Force is currently hosted by ALLRAIL, an association of independent passenger rail companies based in Brussels, Belgium. Additional hosts will be sought to share in the administrative function of this volunteer organization.
TASK FORCE Members:
- Honorable Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, Honorary Chair - Co-Chair of Ukrainian Congressional Caucus in the US House of Representatives
- Jolene Molitoris, Chair - former US Federal Railroad Administrator
- Nick Brooks, Co-Chair - Secretary General of Alliance of Rail New Entrants in Europe (ALLRAIL)
- Ray Chambers, Vice Chair - President of US Association of Innovative Passenger Rail Operations (AIPRO)
- Yuriy Maslikov - CEO of the privately owned Ukrainian freight rail operator Ost-West Logistik Netzwerk GmbH (OWLN)
- Lord Tony Berkeley - member of the UK House of Lords and former President of the European Rail Freight Association (ERFA)
- Jon Michael McGrath - Owner of McGrath Rail, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
- Peter Gibbons - Chief Security Officer at UK rail infrastructure manager Network Rail
- Tim Hollaway - Former Polish rail freight operator - Recording Secretary
- Katharina Dekeyser (ALLRAIL) – Alternate to Mr Brooks
- Mason Baxter (AIPRO) – Alternate to Mr Chambers
- Jon Michael McGrath II – Alternate to Mr McGrath
If you have further questions about the Task Force, then please contact:
info@allrail.eu
+32 479 07 08 06