In the first part of an interview with the acting head of the Board of PJSC “Ukrzaliznytsia” Evgeny Kravtsov told about the planned “reform” of passenger trains, on how the BONDS were able to reduce the cost of tickets on international flights, why stop the increase of tariffs for passenger transportation and high-speed trains.

And if the passenger trains of distant following will be a division into categories in terms of commuter traffic UZ plans to introduce a “Shuttle train”. In such trains UZ plans to introduce DVRs, the controllers, and eventually DVRs, the controllers will appear in all suburban trains. In addition, commuter UZ wants to introduce electronic payment via QR code.

Also here — about the new standards of cleanliness in the cars, problems with security hot line about the appearance of trains, lunch boxes and books. Commuter transportation

What changes will suffer commuter traffic?

Commuter transport in Ukraine provides a large amount of traffic. Several hundred million passengers a year. So, just a year Ukrzaliznytsia carries around 300 million passengers per year. Of them in far — about 20%, in suburban — more than 80%.

We will present a new product in the cities-million plus cities — Kyiv, Lviv, Dnipro, Odessa, Kharkov. It will be a “Shuttle train”.

In these cities we transport in the suburban message a lot of people, but may have more. But to make this product work, we need to negotiate with local sweets, halls, yeah. Because they are primarily interested in such decisions: on the one hand reduces the load on the road network, and on the other a powerful impetus to the development of territories.

We decided to launch the first pilot product of “Shuttle movement” trains on the route Svyatoshino—Klavdiyevo—Svyatoshyn.

For three months, until February 2018, we this product test will show the statistics of transportation of passengers, we will show that we can use normal rolling stock and then offer it as a product to local authorities. But the proposal will also with the calculations of “Ukrzaliznytsia” how much it costs in various cities, what we can give the frequency of plying of trains, the amount of payment or participation on the part of the administration we need. This is a public service agreement that we want to implement in commuter traffic.

The calculation is simple: for the comfort of these trains pay or “Ukrzaliznytsya” from your pocket or passengers by increasing the cost of the ticket (there is a limit: if you exceed a certain “reasonable” limit will begin flight passengers to use alternative modes of transport, and yield in that case will begin to decline sharply), or local authorities for compensation. Everything can be combined, plus additional revenue — advertising, station development services, rental space station complexes.

Why did you choose the direction of Svyatoshino—Klavdiyevo—Svyatoshyn?

There are technological features. Moreover, Irpen, Bucha, Vorzel ‘ are quite large settlements, is able to generate sufficient ridership. At the same time, highway M-07 Kyiv—Kovel—Yagodin, which connect them with the capital, in the morning and evening rush hours overburdened. The idea is that with the extra trains and there a good selection of rolling stock we will provide a running time in the morning and evening rush hours with an interval of 7-20 minutes. In fact, if you speak German standards is the interval S-Bahn. The best example of integration of suburban trains and metro is one of the most successful in the world.

We want local authorities to show the effectiveness of commuter traffic, it effects the perception of citizens, their voters. And after to introduce such trains in other areas and cities. In Kiev at Brovary, Boryspil, Fastiv directions.

If the experiment succeeds, the ticket price for the passenger to change?

The price for commuter transportation we coordinate local authorities. Ukrzaliznytsia wants to solve with the local authorities how to make it profitable, so we all of their income are not buried, and had a level of cost. At least we want to have a great marginalnosti to develop this product further. After divide it between local authorities (with their help) between the ticket (the cost of slightly increasing) and some additional income from us.

For example, now the price to Irpin from Svyatoshino — 8 UAH. This is a competitive price compared to road transport. We see the opportunity to increase the ticket price up to 10 grn, if there is a demand for this product. This slight increase corresponds to the situation in the market. Moreover, the passenger is willing to pay for a decent level of service.

But what is the logic? In suburban traffic, we are competing with buses and minibuses. The ticket price should not be higher than the cost of travel by road. We still have significant advantages — the train does not get stuck in traffic.

“Shuttle trains” will the new trains?

According to the situation. We have a program to update the trains. This year we have released more than 10 modernized trains from the Kiev factory. Next year we plan to increase the volume to 12-15 trains.

How will the passengers be monitored? As “clean birds”?

First — in these trains, ULTRASOUND introduced DVRs, the controllers. In the future, DVRs, the controllers will appear in all suburban trains.

Second, we are negotiating with the “Oschadbank”, public banks, payment systems, to introduce an electronic payment via QR code.

This requires additional investment in process equipment — in the turnstiles. The price is a few hundred thousand hryvnias for equipment of one station (depending on direction). Money lifting.

Third, we need additional monitoring by our internal services.

All of this requires an initial investment in personnel, equipment. Suburban agriculture has always financed by a residual principle. We turn now to invest in this suburban services to increase yield, profitability and service. You need to know whether the support from the local authorities.

But the most important is the awareness of the passenger. For the level of collected revenues, we judge the demand of a train. Therefore, each passenger, from his consciousness affects the stability and rhythm of plying suburban trains.

Someone is viewing video from DVRs controllers?

Video can be seen selectively. There’s the staff, which reviews the DVRs and monitors the work of supervisors.

This system of control operates in other countries?

Of course, such a system is effective even in the post-Soviet countries that passed the upgrade path commuter services. But, again to improve control on passenger transport you need to invest.

How much money is needed to establish control on commuter trains?

If we talk about a large-scale program across the country, hundreds of millions of hryvnia. Given the high level of unprofitability of commuter traffic, if we can get closer to zero the index of economic efficiency, it will be a very good project from the point of view of payback.

Cleanliness, security and lunchboxes

In the us there are standards of purity?

We got back in the late 90s or early 2000-ies of established standards and regulations of clean trains. In November, after analysis, where similar Railways best level of quality and purity, it was found that in Belarus the high level of maintenance of good sanitary condition classic night trains. We sent a delegation from our “Passazhirskie” and the Directors of the depot on exchange of experience and introduction of standards in Ukraine.

The results in the CL sets new standards for bathing and cleaning of wagons and external washing of the streets. One idea is to set the album, which will be monitored, as removed from the car compartment, vestibule, toilet. Colleagues took it 2.5 months. Additional costs will be, but it’s lift things.

Now BONDS has established more rigid control over washing cars.

There is an algorithm for monitoring the integrity of the car?

Every departure of a train should be controlled at the depot level. This created a permanent Commission, composed of leaders responsible for every aspect of the preparation of trains in flight. There are regular inspections depending on the category of the train, planning the examination, from the Central apparatus is a Passenger, the company, weekly, monthly inspections of the condition of rolling stock.

Still have the reverse train. The train always comes into the depot, has a current station, where trains equips and clean. At these stations should also check the cleanness is managed by the head of the train.

How to protect passenger trains “Railways”?

We guard the trains only his own guards — a paramilitary internal security.

After it was disbanded transport police, her place had not won. This is a serious problem for the us in a number of ways: direct costs for the BONDS and limited control of trains.

Let me remind you that our staff is limited in the use of force, they are not law enforcement, internal security. The cuffs can not wear, to expel from the train not always — these rights are only in police.

And if the train violates the order?

If the train has the violators, the head of the train using the locomotive brigade informs the nearest station. There also called the police, who must take action.

The problem is that the police often can’t ride the train to the next station in order to solve the problem in the process of moving. Teaches that it is necessary either to stop the train, or not to solve the problem at all. Sometimes there are times that passenger trains are planted.

This is a serious issue we can’t solve for several years.

How can I solve the issue with security?

We see the possibility of solving the problem in coordination with Nicolicea, the allocation of units of the transport police or even the Department that can be referenced to the main stations and to help at least with the passenger traffic. The issue of protection of their goods and infrastructure, we continue to solve, although it is also a very serious problem.

UZ will introduce new services to service — books, lunchboxes, and the media. That is already entered?

Until the end of the year we as a pilot project we introduce the “lunch boxes” on several fronts.

While there are a number of difficulties. This is a completely new product and even market participants do not know how to provide it, what the technical specifications. We actually have to do it from scratch. A format that works in “intercity+” is not applicable to the night trains because of design features.

What kind of difficulties?

How to collect from passengers the order, because the cart won’t go on the train.

Pre-orders are, but a small percentage. Most people buy lunch-boxes, already being on Board. There is a proposal to use the online application — internal media portal, which should be around the train. Using the portal, you can connect to the Central server through the app and see a menu, to order, to accept your place, etc.

In what areas, price, tender?

Are currently preparing tender for this pilot project.

“Lunch boxes” will run on the directions Kiev—Ivano-Frankivsk, Kyiv—Lviv, Kyiv—Kharkiv and Uzhgorod—Ukraine.

How much will it cost “lunch-box”?

The price level is not higher than it is now there is a “intercity+” WOG cafe. If a main dish, it in limit of 30-40 UAH. Conventionally, we have “lunch boxes” will be worth up to 50 UAH. But the issue is that you will be able to offer the vendor. Now collect the proposals.

And when the train appears books?

The idea was to offer additional services in trains “intercity+”. There is a contractor who provides services catering is a WOG cafe. They distribute books, they have offered to provide books in the train. WOG is now working on the question of how to do it technologically. I think right after the Christmas holidays, passengers will be able to use this service.

What is the media in the trains?

Along with the food we came to the conclusion that it is necessary to provide an internal ordering system for ordering “lunch boxes” and hot meals. The best way to develop the internal network. The same network we plan in the future to use in order to offer passengers media content — movies, some services.

After we will adataim pilot project on power, media content, and the trains will work in the first half of 2018.

Are there any aid stations?

Yes, the ambulances are all out-of-class station, the biggest railway stations — Kyiv, Lviv, Kharkiv. And part of the clinics is at the stations of the first class. In addition, the staff of the station has first aid kits, and they are trained to provide first aid.

What will you do with hotline?

We have it worked quite cropped. Now comes the project of creation of contact-center of “Ukrzaliznytsia”, which will perform not only the function of hot line, and contact with passengers as part of the further service. The contact center will appear in ULTRASOUND in 3 months.

The upgrade of the entire passenger rolling stock only?

Planned in 2018 to purchase 60 carriages, 260 cars to fix major repairs.

This year bought a 50, repaired overhaul about 40 cars. Only in 2017 through different types of repairs spent about 2 thousand passenger cars. The volume is huge, given the fact that we have the same Park — more than 3 thousand cars.

According to our plans, in the 2017-2018 year through the upgrade to hold up to 400 cars. It’s up to 1/6 of our entire fleet.

Cars-transformers, which are well demonstrated, we will continue to buy. Now discuss how much Krukovka carriages can produce, the other major producers in Ukraine simply does not.

And finally. There are complaints that the trains smell like paint. This process is also somehow regulated?

Paint was the problem is an isolated case. When performed car repair in depot, painted outside and partially inside. Had a question for the vendor of paint, because it was to dry, she even kind of dry. When the train went into work and turned on the heating, the ingredients of the dye began to evaporate, there was a smell. Passengers who complained — transplanted in other cars.

Interviewed By Inna Roslik