The railway transport system in Ukraine stands as a pivotal sector within the nation's transportation infrastructure, accounting for a substantial portion of freight and passenger movement compared to domestic alternative modes of transportation. With direct border connections and collaboration with railways in Moldova, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Hungary, Ukrzaliznytsia JSC facilitate operations through forty international railway crossings. The political climate in Ukraine, particularly the focus on export to EU countries, has sparked increased interest in transportation towards western border regions [1, 2]. This article delves into the challenges and opportunities surrounding the enhanced cooperation of Ukrainian border terminals with EU countries during wartime and post-war periods. It analyzes the current state of freight transportation to Europe, addressing existing challenges and outlining short- and long-term development prospects for railways. Emphasis is made on the vital role of railway transport in Ukraine's integration into the European transport network, presenting avenues for implementing plans connected with railway reconstruction and development. Container transportation commands a significant market share, with a growing trend towards its adoption. Container transport facilitates a substantial reduction in loading operations, a notable increase in labor productivity, and enables comprehensive mechanization and automation of cross-docking operations. As a transit country—four out of ten existing pan-European transport corridors traverse Ukraine— the nation possesses considerable potential for developing its railway transport system. With the third-largest railway network in Europe (19,787 km, including 9,319 km of electrified tracks), railway transport assumes a leading role in Ukraine's transportation landscape. However, despite its advantages, Ukraine's transportation and logistics system lags behind those of other countries worldwide. Modernization of tracks and rolling stock necessitates significant capital investment and time, underscoring the immediate need to enhance the quality of logistics services [3]. Therefore, this article explores optimization methods for container traffic from Ukraine to EU countries with the use of mathematical methods and algorithms. The genetic algorithm among the discussed methods is recognized as one of the premier mathematical algorithms for the specified task. This approach could play a pivotal role in establishing a robust technical system for railways along Ukraine's western border, optimizing border crossing operations, and enhancing Ukrainian railway transportation capabilities. It not only aids in identifying the fastest or most economical routes but reveals weaknesses in Ukrainian border terminals. Additional strategies can be devised for modernizing and expanding border terminals and stations by leveraging this insight, facilitating the integration of Ukrainian railways into the European transport system.
1. URC 2024 Goal. (2022) The National Council for the Recovery of Ukraine from the Consequences of the War. Draft Ukraine. Retrieved from: https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/621f88db25fbf24758792dd8/62d815 739a363800fd1cda5c_Recovery%20and%20development%20of%20infrastructure.pdf (in English).
2. URC 2024 Goal. (2022) National Recovery Council. Ukraine's National Recovery Plan. Retrieved from: https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/621f88db25fbf24758792dd8/62c166751fcf411... 20Recovery%20Plan%20blueprint_ENG.pdf (in English).
3. Alho, T., Hickson, M., Kokko, T., & Pettersson, T. (2019). Converting a manual straddle carrier terminal to automation. Conversion to automated straddle carrier terminal. Retrieved from: https://www.kalmar.fi/ globalassets/equipment/pdfs/whitepaper_conversion-to-automated-straddle-carrier-terminal.pdf (in English).
4. Konteineryzatsiia vantazhopotokiv: Yakym buv 2023 rik dlia rynku ta yak osnovni hravtsi otsiniuiut perspektyvy rostu [Containerization of cargo flows: What was 2023 like for the market and how do the main players assess growth prospects?]. Retrieved from: https://cfts.org.ua/articles/konteynerizatsiya_vantazhopotokiv_yakim_ buv_2023_rik_dlya_rinku_ta_yak_osnovni_gravtsi_otsinyuyut_perspektivi_rostu_2018/140140 (in Ukrainian).
5. Tsiotas, D., & Ducruet, C. (2021). Measuring the effect of distance on the network topology of the Global Container Shipping Network. Scientific Reports, 11(1), 21250. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-00387-3 (in English).
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-00387-3
6. Lambora, A., Gupta, K., & Chopra, K. (2019). Genetic algorithm-A literature review. In 2019 international conference on machine learning, big data, cloud and parallel computing (COMITCon) (pp. 380-384). IEEE. doi: 10.1109/COMITCon.2019.8862255 (in English).
https://doi.org/10.1109/COMITCon.2019.8862255
7. Liu, H., Zhan, P., & Zhou, M. (2022). Optimization of a logistics transportation network based on a genetic algorithm. Mobile Information Systems, 2022. 1-8. doi: 10.1155/2022/1271488 (in English).
https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/1271488
8. Fesovets, O., Strelko, O., Berdnychenko, Y., Isaienko, S., & Pylypchuk, O. (2019). Container transportation by rail transport within the context of Ukraine's European integration. In Proceedings of 23rd International Scientific Conference. Transport Means.-2019.-Part I (pp. 381-386). (in English).
9. Chi, M., Zhu, X., Wang, L., Zhang, Q., & Liu, W. (2024). Multi-period empty container repositioning approach for multimodal transportation. Measurement and Control, 57(4), 361-377. doi: 10.1177/00202940231198133 (in English).
https://doi.org/10.1177/00202940231198133
10. Zhang, Q., Kwabla, A. C., Zhuang, Y., Ling, M., Wei, Y., & Yang, H. (2020). Research on Loading and Unloading Resource Scheduling and Optimization of Rail-Road Transportation in Container Terminal Based on "Internet+"-for Ghana Container Port Development Planning. Journal of Advanced Transportation, 2020. 1-13. doi: 10.1155/2020/6972123 (in English).
https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/6972123
11. Kurtuluş, E., & Çetin, İ. B. (2020). Analysis of modal shift potential towards intermodal transportation in short-distance inland container transport. Transport Policy, 89, 24-37. doi: 10.1016/j.tranpol.2020.01.017 (in English).
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.2020.01.017
12. Kuzmicz, K. A., & Pesch, E. (2019). Approaches to empty container repositioning problems in the context of Eurasian intermodal transportation. Omega, 85, 194-213. doi: 10.1016/j.omega.2018.06.004 (in English).
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.omega.2018.06.004
13. Zhao, J., Zhu, X., & Wang, L. (2020). Study on scheme of outbound railway container organization in rail-water intermodal transportation. Sustainability, 12(4), 1519. doi: 10.3390/su12041519 (in English).
https://doi.org/10.3390/su12041519
14. Lysyi, V., & Steblak, D. (2022). Vplyv viiny na rozvytok transportnoho perevezennia v Ukraini [Impact of the war on transport development in Ukraine]. Naukovyi visnyk Uzhhorodskoho natsionalnoho universytetu [Scientific Bulletin of Uzhhorod National University], 43, 92-96. doi: 10.32782/2413-9971/2022-43-16 (in Ukrainian).
https://doi.org/10.32782/2413-9971/2022-43-16
15. Rose, A., Chen, Z., & Wei, D. (2023). The economic impacts of russia-Ukraine War export disruptions of grain commodities. Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, 45(2), 645-665. doi: 10.1002/aepp.13351 (in English).
https://doi.org/10.1002/aepp.13351
16. Interfax Ukraine. (2023) Skupchennia vahoniv sposterihaietsia na trokh zakhidnykh zaliznychnykh perekhodakh cherez aktyvizatsiiu perevezen rudy [Congestion of wagons is observed at three western railway crossings due to the intensification of ore transportation]. Retrieved from: https://interfax.com.ua/news/economic/893521.html
17. Lomotko, D., & Kovalov, D. (2021). Zastosuvannia henetychnykh alhorytmiv na stadii planuvannia zmishanykh perevezen u mizhnarodnomu spoluchenni [Application of genetic algorithms at the planning stage of international intermodal transportations]. Zbirnyk naukovykh prats Ukrainskoho derzhavnoho universytetu zaliznychnoho transportu [Collection of Scientific Works of the Ukrainian State University of Railway Transport], 193, 53-61. doi: 10.18664/1994-7852.193.2020.229820 (in Ukrainian).
https://doi.org/10.18664/1994-7852.193.2020.229820