Retired metro cars in Kyiv undergo a lengthy process of operation before they are finally disposed of
This is reported by Kyiv24
Metro cars have a limited service life, after which they need to be replaced. For equipment that has reached its operational limit, a clear procedure has been established for its disposal if it is no longer suitable for further use.
Fleet of Cars and Reasons for Retirement
According to subway employees, the current inventory of the Kyiv Metro consists of over 830 cars. Four of them were recently decommissioned due to completely exhausted technical resources, as confirmed by relevant expert assessments. These cars are expected to be disposed of soon, with plans to announce open tenders for this purpose.
The municipal enterprise emphasizes that only the car body will be disposed of. All equipment, parts, and components first undergo defect inspection. Based on the results of this inspection, it is determined whether they can be reused for the repair of other rolling stock.
“Such cars are not repaired, as their design contains several key load-bearing elements, the condition of which directly affects traffic safety. In particular, the car body frame is the main load-bearing element, and its condition is monitored during operation. If critical deformations or changes in its geometry are detected, further operation or major repairs of such a car become impossible for safety reasons,” the specialists explained.
From Service to Disposal
The cars prepared for disposal were manufactured between 1978 and 1980 and have transported passengers for over 40 years. During this time, each of them has covered approximately 3.5 million kilometers.
The disposal procedure is the final stage of the life cycle of such cars. Before this, the cars were repeatedly offered for sale through the “Prozorro.Sales” system, but no buyers were found. Therefore, a decision was made to dispose of them. Before final dismantling, metro specialists independently remove some equipment: undercarriage fittings, elements of the interiors, and driver cabins. Parts that remain in usable condition are used for the repair of other cars.
“Disposal by cutting and generating scrap metal is a rational and safe solution for cars in such condition. All metal structures will then be sent for recycling for further use, albeit in a different form,” the capital metro stated.