Kyiv plans to buy 224 subway cars for half a billion euros: wants to attract loans from the EU

Kyiv City State Administration hopes to attract EBRD and EIB loans to upgrade subway rolling stock

Vira Kasiyan

LIGA.net news editor

May 7, 12:50

Photo: Kyiv Metro / Facebook

The Executive Committee of the Kyiv City State Administration (KCSA) has approved a project to upgrade the city's subway rolling stock and attract loans from international financial organizations. Related order on May 6, the mayor signed Vitali Klitschko.

In particular, Kyiv plans to attract 150 million euros from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and EUR 140 million from the European Investment Bank (EIB).

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The total estimated cost of the project exceeds EUR 520 million (about EUR 409.4 million for the purchase of railcars to replace the existing rolling stock and EUR 117.7 million to ensure the operation of new sections).

As part of the project, the city wants to purchase 224 new subway cars. Of these, 174 cars are to replace outdated rolling stock, and another 50 are to ensure the operation of new metro sections, including Vynohradar.

The Kyiv City State Administration notes that most of the current subway cars were manufactured in 1970-2013 and are already morally and physically obsolete. In addition, some of the rolling stock contains Russian components that cannot be purchased at this time because of the full-scale war.

The document also states that the new cars should be more energy efficient, comfortable and cheaper to maintain. The rolling stock upgrade is expected to help reduce repair costs and improve the reliability of the subway.

The Kyiv City State Administration emphasizes that the project is also linked to the development of the Syretsko-Pecherska metro line in the direction of Vynohradar. After opening of stations "The city will need additional rolling stock at Mostytska and Prospekt Pravdy to maintain train intervals.

In March 2025, Kyiv Metro announced a tender for the purchase of five trains with through cars. The terms of the tender provided for the purchase of 10 five-car trains with free passage between cars. The previous tender was canceled.

The new subway cars (up to 50 units) under this contract were to ensure uninterrupted passenger transportation on the Syretsko-Pecherskaya section of the subway line from Syrets station to Vynohradar residential area, whose construction has resumed in early November 2024 after a several-year hiatus.