Ukrzaliznytsia Receives Two More ES3000 Battery Locomotives from Bulgaria

On June 15, 2026, Bulgarian manufacturer Express Service OOD sent two more ES3000 battery locomotives⁠ to Ukrzaliznytsia.

The delivery marks another stage in the renewal of Ukrzaliznytsia’s shunting fleet and forms part of a broader transition of Ukraine’s railway sector toward modern European technologies. Including this batch, six ES3000 locomotives have already been delivered to Ukrzaliznytsia.

Two more units are expected to be delivered by the end of 2026. Another two locomotives are scheduled to arrive in the first quarter of 2027. As a result, the overall delivery program covers ten battery-powered shunting locomotives.

European Technologies for Ukrzaliznytsia

The first ES3000 locomotives⁠ were sent earlier to support the modernization of Ukrzaliznytsia’s fleet, and the new batch continues this delivery program.

ES3000 battery locomotives are designed for shunting operations and can become part of the modernization of Ukrzaliznytsia’s traction fleet. Such units help reduce dependence on diesel fuel, cut emissions during depot operations, and improve the energy efficiency of shunting work.

For Express Service OOD, participation in locomotive deliveries to Ukraine is an important project, as Ukrzaliznytsia remains a strategic company for the country and one of the key railway systems in the region.

The delivery also has symbolic context. Ukraine continues moving toward integration with the European Union, and the railway sector is one of the areas where this process has practical importance.

Ukraine Brings Its Railway Closer to EU Standards

Last week, the Verkhovna Rada adopted in full draft law No. 14174, “On the Safety and Interoperability of Railway Transport of Ukraine⁠.” The document is part of Ukraine’s European integration course and is intended to bring Ukrainian railway legislation closer to EU standards, particularly in the areas of safety, technical regulation, and compatibility with the European Union railway system.

Ukraine’s railway still faces large-scale reforms, technical challenges, and a complex process of adapting to new rules. At the same time, the direction has already been set: integration into a common European railway area.

The delivery of ES3000 locomotives is one practical step in this process, as it combines rolling stock renewal, energy-efficient technologies, and a gradual move away from outdated approaches in railway operations.