A significant share of Metinvest's Iron Ore Plants' total freight transportation is carried out by rail. On the occasion of the professional holiday, we highlight those who stand behind every tonne of mined material and finished product transported.
The railway is a vital link in the overall production chain of Metinvest Iron Ore Plants. Its employees include not only locomotive and traction unit drivers and their assistants, but also track fitters, but also track fitters, rolling stock repair technicians, cargo and baggage handling agents, contact network and signalling electricians, station duty officers, and dispatchers.
Representatives of these professions transport goods, regulate freight flows, ensure the proper functioning of machinery and equipment, and guarantee timely transportation and traffic safety… Dozens of different professions, all working in the same rhythm.
FIGURE
More than 1,650 employees are engaged in railway operations across Metinvest’s three Iron Ore Plants
Mykola GRYGOVOVYCH
The total length of permanent and mobile railway tracks amounts to 776 km! Since the beginning of this year, over a nine-month period, the workshops of Metinvest Consolidated Iron Ore have transported 51.4 mln t of mined material from the open-pit mines of the three plants. A total of 11.4 mln t of finished goods have been shipped, and the overall freight turnover has reached approximately 556.6 mln t*km.
In response to the challenges of the times, the teams are developing and implementing initiatives aimed at saving resources. A substantial contribution to the operational efficiency of Metinvest Consolidated Iron Ore. This primarily refers to the optimisation of railway routes, which helps to save fuel. These are complex and costly projects that must take into account the current production configuration and the existing track development schemes of the Railway Transport Department, yet they yield substantial results.
The total length of permanent and mobile railway tracks amounts to 776 km! Since the beginning of this year, over a nine-month period, the workshops of Metinvest Consolidated Iron Ore have transported 51.4 mln t of mined material from the open-pit mines of the three plants. A total of 11.4 mln t of finished goods have been shipped, and the overall freight turnover has reached approximately 556.6 mln t*km.
In response to the challenges of the times, the teams are developing and implementing initiatives aimed at saving resources. A substantial contribution to the operational efficiency of Metinvest Consolidated Iron Ore. This primarily refers to the optimisation of railway routes, which helps to save fuel. These are complex and costly projects that must take into account the current production configuration and the existing track development schemes of the Railway Transport Department, yet they yield substantial results.
For example, in the spring of this year, the railway workers of Central Iron Ore implemented a project to reduce the distance for transporting ore to the crushing plant. The employees' initiative reduced the transportation distance by constructing a connecting track between the 'Hrekuvata Industrial' and 'Unloading' stations. The initiative is expected to save nearly half a thousand tonnes of diesel fuel annually and deliver yearly cost savings exceeding UAH 25 mln.
Hennadii HRYTSENIUK
Each railway workshop has its own heroes who can rightfully be regarded as the pride of the division. They are pleased to offer a glimpse behind the scenes of their railway routines, sharing insights into their working principles and professional journeys.
Mykola GRYGOVOVYCH has been working at Ingulets Iron Ore since 1997, and for 28 years he has served as a shift supervisor in the railway workshop. An expert in railway operations whose advice is highly valued, an experienced and creative professional, and a manager who treats colleagues with respect.
"How quickly the years have flown by! When I recall certain events now, it feels as though I have lived and worked for a very long time," says Mykola with a somewhat wistful smile. "Soon it will be time for a well-earned retirement. Over the years, directors, managers, and colleagues have changed… And the celebrations were truly memorable: the plant’s anniversaries, Miner's Day… It’s a pleasure to look back on them.”
The railway demands order, and as in any profession, the key lies in loving your work and being passionate about it – only then will there be both achievements and recognition. Where there is curiosity and genuine engagement, achievements will follow. Where experience is preserved and passed down from senior colleagues, strong results are achieved. In railway operations, everything matters – from safety to the coordinated actions of various departments. At present, of course, there is little work – these are difficult, wartime conditions, with numerous restrictions. Ingulets Iron Ore has been stopped, but we are still carrying out limited transport operations. As always, the railway has consistently demanded precision and timeliness in all actions. As our Chief Engineer once said long ago: 'You play as though it were chess, so it is essential to plan several moves ahead.'
Hennadii HRYTSENIUK joined Northern Iron Ore in 1992 as a rolling stock repair fitter. Later, following his training, he became a locomotive driver – and has remained loyal to the railway for over 30 years. Thoughtful and determined, sincerely devoted to his profession. Who, if not he, knows all the intricacies of the matter?
An experienced railway worker is involved in the transportation of finished goods at the external railway transport workshop of Northern Iron Ore.
"Has the railway changed over all these years? Of course. It has become more difficult and complex; upgrades have nearly ceased, and components are in short supply. My locomotive, for instance, has been at the repair depot for over a month now, and there is still no clarity as to when it will return to service. It is challenging everywhere at present. To everyone. The war has now been ongoing for nearly four years. Have I changed? On the one hand, I have grown up, but in my heart, I remain the same young lad who once accidentally chose a career on the railway. Over time, I came to appreciate its flavour. I liked it. I have no regrets.
I had a year and a half of experience working in a managerial role as a shift supervisor, but things didn’t quite work out. I’m used to working on the diesel locomotive. Here, I feel assured: I am a senior locomotive driver, leading a crew with whom I have a clearly established and effective working relationship…”
Vitalii HRYTSKO
“Being a diesel locomotive driver or an assistant is a challenging profession. Therefore, above all, I wish my colleagues peace, strength, and good health. And properly functioning equipment!" concludes Hennadii Hrytseniuk, summarising his wishes.
Vitalii HRYTSKO works as a diesel locomotive driver, transporting mining material from Artemivskyi open-pit mine to Central Iron Ore. One could say he is a railwayman by heritage, as both his mother and grandmother worked for Ukrzaliznytsia.
"I don’t know whether it’s my genes or something else, but I’ve been working on the railway for 15 years – almost as long as the war has been going on," says Vitalii. "To put it simply: this is not an easy profession. It requires knowledge and experience, which is why the support of experienced colleagues is so important at the start. Because the level of responsibility is very high. Doing a slapdash job is not an option, as overall safety and the stability of operations depend on each individual. With time, you come to understand that the main thing is to do your job honestly and with respect for your colleagues. Each of us has our own area of responsibility, yet we are all moving in the same direction. There are quite a few problems at present: there is a shortage of staff, and the fleet consists mostly of very seasoned veterans who require a great deal of attention. But we maintain what we have in order to keep working – for our families and for the country’s economy in these difficult times. The movement must not stop."
