Fears over new Ukraine rail link to Poland are exaggerated, say logistics experts

Concerns are mounting within Poland's logistics sector regarding the potential impact of a new standard-gauge rail line connecting to Ukraine's terminal in Skniłów, near Lviv. Some market participants fear this development could threaten the future of Poland's own LHS (Broad Gauge Metallurgy Line) and the Euroterminal Sławków. However, industry insiders argue these anxieties are overblown and fail to grasp the broader context of international transport. They emphasize that logistics operators constantly seek the most efficient supply chains, regardless of the specific route, whether it involves Małaszewicze, the LHS, seaports, or the Trans-Caspian corridor. The interest in the LHS line dates back to 2015-2016, when congestion at Małaszewicze highlighted the risks of relying on a single border crossing. This led to the development of alternative solutions, including the first Poland-China transport via the Trans-Caspian route in 2018 and various other pioneering cross-border services. The discussion about the LHS's future often oversimplifies its significance by focusing solely on the planned Skniłów terminal. In reality, the LHS encompasses approximately 400 kilometers of broad-gauge track, multiple terminals, private logistics centers, and transshipment yards. Terminals along the entire line, such as those in Wola Baranowska, Szczebrzeszyn, and Zamość, have been developing for years. Furthermore, the LHS serves various industries, including metallurgy, bulk cargo, fertilizers, and liquid fuels, not just intermodal transport. Historically, Euroterminal Sławków's primary business involved intermodal transport connecting Polish seaports with Western Europe, with Ukrainian and Eurasian connections being important but secondary. The article, sourced from Rzeczpospolita in Poland, suggests a more integrated and diversified view of the logistics landscape is necessary.