LTG Cargo, the freight  transport company of the LTG Group, established a subsidiary in Ukraine five years ago. This year, it changed its business model, signed lease agreements for more than 400 rolling stock units, moved to a new office, and is planning further investments.

"Believing in the future and market of Ukraine, we continued the activities of LTG Cargo Ukraine despite the war started by Russia, even though we had to change our plans and adapt to operating in extraordinary conditions. During our visit to Ukraine, we saw how important the railway is to this country and what serious challenges it faces. The fact that we can contribute to the movement of cargo that is important to a country under attack – previously through freight forwarding services, and since this autumn through leased rolling stock – is a significant step in diversifying LTG Cargo's business," says Eglė Šimė, head of LTG Cargo.

The activities of this subsidiary in strengthening the logistics chains between Lithuania and Ukraine were closely related to the transport of cargo through Poland, where another subsidiary of LTG Cargo, LTG Cargo Polska, was established in the same year.

Since August of this year, when the change in the business model of LTG Cargo Ukraine was announced, lease agreements have already been signed for 405 different railcars: flatcars, covered railcars, tank cars, mineral cars, and cement cars.

"We are continuing negotiations with Ukrainian businesses regarding rolling stock leasing, and additional investments in this activity are planned for the coming year – more rolling stock will be transferred to LTG Cargo Ukraine," says Saulius Stasiūnas, head of LTG Cargo Ukraine.

Summarizing the company's activities since its establishment, S. Stasiūnas adds that a lot has been achieved. "The company not only continued its operations but also managed to operate efficiently and provide returns to its shareholders. Customers have remained loyal and continue to choose to work with LTG Cargo Ukraine, which we greatly appreciate," summarizes the head of the company in Ukraine.

Since 2020, LTG Cargo Ukraine has contributed to the creation of new logistics chains. At the beginning of the war, when cargo was stuck on the roads at the Polish border, some of it was quickly transported by rail, new routes were created for grain transportation, and to transport broad gauge (1520 mm) wagons between the Baltic countries and Ukraine via Poland and return them to their owners.

Having changed its business model from freight forwarding services to rolling stock operation and leasing, LTG Cargo Ukraine also moved its office from Kyiv to Lviv, the Lviv Tech City business center. It is expected that this will bring the company's representatives closer to their customers, give them a better understanding of the rolling stock needs at the terminals they operate, and enable them to offer services that best meet expectations.

The freight transport company LTG Cargo is a member of the LTG Group, which is actively pursuing integration and expansion in the West. The company provides freight transport, logistics and forwarding, freight loading, locomotive and wagon repair, and wagon rental services in Lithuania and abroad. LTG Cargo has established and manages the companies LTG Cargo Polska in Poland and LTG Cargo Ukraine in Ukraine.