DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF RAILWAY PASSENGER INFRASTRUCTURE IN CONDITIONS OF LIMITED RESOURCES
Abstract
The article tackles the accelerating degradation of Ukraine’s railway system, a problem intensified by full-scale war and decades of structural under-investment and contends that mere physical repairs will fail unless coupled with a far-reaching digital transformation. The methodological toolbox combines system-structural analysis, statistical modelling of traffic and asset losses, comparative benchmarking of German, French and Chinese digital rail programmes, and compound annual growth rate (CAGR) calculations that forecast a 10% yearly expansion of the global digital-rail market to 2032. Empirical results quantify direct wartime damage at US $4.3 billion, identify a 20-30% potential reduction in maintenance outlays through predictive-maintenance algorithms, and demonstrate a positive net present value for thirty priority projects under conservative tariff and discount-rate scenarios. This robust financial evaluation further emphasizes the importance of well-planned investments in digital infrastructure for resilience. Practical significance is embodied in a donor-oriented road map that sequences infrastructure hardening, cyber-secure data platforms, and situational-awareness centres, aligns them with existing World Bank, EBRD, and EIB funding windows, and offers a transparent «CAPEX versus OPEX-savings» matrix for project selection Implementation of the recommended modules is expected to significantly enhance the efficiency and resilience of the railway network, reducing delays, increasing system availability, and improving fault-diagnosis capabilities. These improvements will strengthen logistical support for both civilian operations and defence mobility, ensuring rapid response capabilities and maintaining the continuity of essential transport services even under challenging conditions. The study therefore provides policy-makers and investors with a rigorously costed, technologically coherent pathway for rebuilding a safer, greener, and fully interoperable Ukrainian railway in line with EU standards, strengthening the nation’s strategic connectivity.
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