Kyiv metro to receive new, modern railcars with support from EBRD

• EBRD lends €150 million to City of Kyiv to finance acquisition of new, energy-efficient metro cars, and maintenance and diagnostic equipment, supported by Spain
• Investment to provide reliable, accessible and greener transport for 3.2 million people
• Technical assistance will support improvements to accessibility and women’s employment in metro operations

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is supporting the modernisation of Kyiv’s metro system and the continued provision of vital public transport services by lending €150 million to the City of Kyiv.

The Bank’s financing will enable the city to acquire new metro cars, including spare parts and tools, as well as maintenance and diagnostic equipment for metro operator Kyivski Metropolitan.

The loan is supported by a partial guarantee from Spain and complemented by grant funding from the EBRD’s own internal resources.

The new metro cars are expected to be up to 25 per cent more energy efficient than the ageing stock they will replace, ensuring greener, safer and more reliable metro services.

Kyiv’s metro system is the backbone of the city’s public transport network, and its stations serve as temporary shelters from missile and drone attacks against the city. Maintaining reliable metro services is critical for residents, internally displaced people and the functioning of the city’s economy in wartime.

In addition to direct financing, the EBRD will work with the city to improve public transport accessibility for people with disabilities, veterans, older passengers and people with young children. The Bank will support an accessibility audit to inform an action plan for developing more inclusive transport infrastructure and services across Kyiv, benefiting 3.2 million people.

The Bank will also support Kyiv Metro’s training programme for drivers of electric trains, in partnership with UN Women’s She Drives initiative. Participants will receive three years of professional training, helping Kyiv Metro to address staff shortages and expand employment opportunities for women.

The EBRD, Ukraine’s largest institutional investor, has significantly increased its support for the country in response to the war. The Bank has made almost €11 billion available to Ukraine since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, supporting the real economy through its work to bolster energy security, vital infrastructure, food security, trade and the private sector.