Global Ukraine Rail Task Force
After Russia’s unprovoked and brutal invasion of Ukraine, one thing became immediately clear: the critical role of the Ukrainian and European rail systems in evacuating refugees as well as transporting humanitarian aid and agricultural produce.
This is why the Global Ukraine Task Force was set up fast, in order to coordinate humanitarian, technical and mechanical support for Ukrainian freight and passenger rail companies. More details on the Task Force's objectives can be found further below.
In addition, the Task Force is working together with WE AID - founded by Phineo, the German branch of the leading charitable organization United Way - on a donation campaign to raise funds for the Ukrainian railways system in this crisis.
DONATION CAMPAIGN
First and second distribution of the proceeds collected under the donation campaign
So far, more than 375,000 euros have been collected, thanks to the generosity of both corporate and individual donors. The proceeds were sent to the Trade Union of Railwaymen and Transport Construction of JSC Ukrainian Railway to be used to purchase 130 sets of protective gear for train drivers, 13.800 food packages and 18.000 bottles of drinking water that were shipped and delivered to railway workers and their families at the frontline and newly liberated territories of Ukraine (Kharkiv, Kupyansk, Bakhmut, Kherson, Nikopol, Marhanets, Izyum, Konotop, Bakhmach, Khutir-Mikhailivsky, Chernihiv, etc.). The food packages consist of: flour, pasta, rice, corn and wheat grits, oil, canned fish and meat, pate, tea, sugar and biscuits.
The Global Ukraine Rail Task Force would like to wholeheartedly thank all the generous donors who contributed, especially the UK association Rail Partners, Norway’s infrastructure manager Bane NOR, United Way’s “United for Ukraine” fund and Swedish Railways SJ.
In addition, the Global Ukraine Rail Task Force would like to thank the wonderful people of the Task Force’s partner WE AID for their tireless efforts and dedication in helping us running this donation campaign and making sure that the proceeds reach the Ukrainian railway workers.
Donate online
You can still donate in Euros, British pounds, US dollars, Norwegian kroner and Swedish crowns on WE-AID's website:
https://www.we-aid.org/en/initiatives/allrail-support-ukraine-rail-task-force/
Once there, please click on 
to make a payment with any credit card or debit card, and not only with Paypal.
Bank transfer
There is also a bank account for our campaign. Monies from any currency can be paid to:
Account Holder: WE AID gGmbH (Note: WE AID gGmbH is handling this initiative's donations)
IBAN: DE48100205000001838801
SWIFT/BIC: BFSWDE33BER
Use Keyword: UKRAINERAIL
Bank name: Bank für Sozialwirtschaft Aktiengesellschaft
Bank address: Konrad Adenauer-Ufer 85, 50668 Köln (Cologne), Germany
Telephone: +49 (0) 221 97356-0
MORE DETAILS ABOUT GLOBAL UKRAINE RAIL TASK FORCE
The primary aim of the Global Ukraine Rail Task Force is to provide a roundtable to analyse the impact of Russia’s aggressive invasion on Ukraine’s rail sector and to seek solutions. The twin goals are to address the humanitarian crisis enveloping the rail sector as well as rebuilding the rail infrastructure to replace war damage and meet the long term needs of a democratic Ukraine linked to the European Union.
THE TASKFORCE'S MAIN OBJECTIVES ARE TO ADDRESS THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS AND TO PROVIDE PROTECTIVE GEAR FOR RAIL SECTOR WORKERS
This means a firm commitment to support railway employees and their families who are suffering from the invasion.
Together with Rail Partners, the GURTF responded to the urgent call from Ukrainian train drivers working in frontline areas. As a result of the Kit for Kyiv campaign in 2024, 130 sets of protective equipment have been purchased.
Each set includes body armour, a Kevlar helmet, two interchangeable balaclavas, and tactical goggles. Deliveries to frontline workers are expected to begin in November, coordinated by the Trade Union of Railwaymen and Transport Construction Workers of Ukraine.
STRUCTURE OF THE GLOBAL UKRAINE RAIL TASK FORCE
The Task Force is currently hosted by ALLRAIL, an association of independent passenger rail companies based in Brussels, Belgium. Additional hosts will be sought to share in the administrative function of this volunteer organization.
TASK FORCE Members:
- Honorable Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, Honorary Chair - Co-Chair of Ukrainian Congressional Caucus in the US House of Representatives
- Jolene Molitoris, Chair - former US Federal Railroad Administrator
- Nick Brooks, Co-Chair - Secretary General of Alliance of Rail New Entrants in Europe (ALLRAIL)
- Ray Chambers, Vice Chair - President of US Association of Innovative Passenger Rail Operations (AIPRO)
- Simon Cassidy, MCIRO – Principal Consultant at First Rail; Liskeard Town Councillor; Humanitarian Aid Volunteer
- Yuriy Maslikov - CEO of the privately owned Ukrainian freight rail operator Ost-West Logistik Netzwerk GmbH (OWLN)
- Jon Michael McGrath - Owner of McGrath Rail, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
- Peter Gibbons - Chief Security Officer at UK rail infrastructure manager Network Rail
- Tim Hollaway - Former Polish rail freight operator - Recording Secretary
- Katharina Dekeyser (ALLRAIL) – Alternate to Mr Brooks
- Mason Baxter (AIPRO) – Alternate to Mr Chambers
- Dr. Brindha Mahendran – Alternate to Mr McGrath
If you have further questions about the Task Force, then please contact:
info@allrail.eu
+32 479 07 08 06