An experiment in logistics, aiming to optimize the transport network and provide high-quality passenger service, is in works, to be implemented in Ternopil region. The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine’s Committee on Transport and Communications was to consider the project on October 23, as announced by the committee’s chair Borys Kolesnikov during its field session in Ternopil on October 18. According to him, it is about using Western European experience. “For example, all rail-served German localities have no bus lines, using only suburban trains for short-range communication.
However, they maintain their trains far better than we do. That is, efficient transportation requires modeling logistics first. Ternopil region is quite compact and conveniently located, so we should have it easy finding common ground to create such a model, comprising both cargo and passenger operations,” Kolesnikov noted. The model would involve, in particular, the acquisition of large modern buses made by Lviv and Lutsk bus plants. Over time, these buses would completely replace minibuses, many of the latter being converted cargo vehicles that will never be able to fully meet the passenger service requirements. So, we are dealing with passenger safety issues here. “The transition period should last about five years. After all, people spent a lot of money purchasing minibuses, so we will give them a chance to find a use for their vehicles in other industries over this time,” Kolesnikov told us. He was sure that this logistical model would ultimately bring savings to passengers, the region, and the entire nation.
