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From Arras, Hauts-de-France to Kyiv, Ukraine.
In December 2025, Rail Logistics Europe demonstrated its railway expertise in support of the humanitarian emergency in Ukraine. Through an extraordinary logistical operation, 30 buses donated by Île-de-France Mobilités were transported by rail to the Kyiv and Chernihiv regions to assist the movement of civilians in need.
Julien Kauffmann
A solidarity challenge through exceptional transport
The first convoy, with a total capacity of 30 buses, departed from Arras on December 17 after two days of loading. The effective arrival in Ukraine on December 31 was achieved after transiting through Poland.
The transported buses are former vehicles from the Île-de-France network, withdrawn from service but fully operational. They will enhance the evacuation capacity for populations in villages, schools, hospitals, and retirement homes in the Kyiv and Chernihiv regions of Ukraine.
This solidarity project is part of a donation of a total of 400 buses from Île-de-France Mobilités to Ukraine, planned by 2026.
A complex operation fully coordinated by Rail Logistics Europe
The expedition entrusted to Rail Logistics Europe involved six railway companies across Europe, each contributing their expertise:
- Forwardis GmbH: for project management and international coordination.
- Hexafret (France): for French railway operations and loading.
- Captrain Deutschland-Gruppe and ITL (Germany): for traction and convoy continuity in Germany.
- Captrain Polska: for transport to Poland.
- Ukrainian Railways: to orchestrate the convoy’s continuation to Kyiv.
The operation required exceptional logistical mobilization. Teams worked in shifts to quickly classify and allocate routes, obtaining exceptional transport permits in just a few days while ensuring the security of the transport from France to the Ukrainian border.
This operation illustrates the strength of the Rail Logistics Europe group, capable of uniting its expertise and companies around a common goal.
How was this end-to-end European logistics operation organized?
Beyond the technical feat, the operation required:
- A rapid identification of loading platforms in France.
- A selection of secure unloading zones near the Ukrainian border.
- A coordination of railway actors in 4 European countries: France, Germany, Poland, and Ukraine.
This cross-border logistics chain demonstrates the resilience of European rail freight and its ability to respond agilely to exceptional humanitarian challenges.
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