ПРОСТОРОВІ ОСОБЛИВОСТІ ФУНКЦІОНУВАННЯ МЕРЕЖІ ЗАЛІЗНИЧНОГО ТРАНСПОРТУ ЗАХІДНОЇ УКРАЇНИ

Abstract

In terms of the development level, the total length of communication lines, the volume of passengers and cargo transportation, railway transport plays an important role in the economy of Western Ukraine. It was born in the 70s of the XIX century. It went through the stages of rapid extensive development, maturity and intensive development. Today, the railways are experiencing a renaissance in many countries of the world. Ukraine is still at the beginning of this stage. Drawing up socio-economic growth projects, it is impossible for a detailed analysis of the current state and prospects for the development of railway transport. Also, it is important to research the mutual influence of the railway transport network and the entire socio-economic system in general. The aim of the study is to determine the spatial features of the railway network of Western Ukraine, and the main task – based on open data OpenStreetMap, to analyze the availability of the railway network in the context of regions, districts and cities of regional subordination of Western Ukraine using the indicators the transport network density and the Engel’s coefficient. Due to the difficulty of accessing official statistics at the local level, both official statistics and open data from the OpenStreetMap mapping service were used. As a result of the research, it was revealed that Lviv region is distinguished by the level of the railway network development in the region; the highest concentration of the network is observed near regional centers, especially around the regional center of Lviv; high concentration of railways is near large transport railway junctions (Kovel, Zdolbuniv, Dubno, Sarny, Stryi, Khodoriv, Korolevo, Delyatyn); increased concentration along the western state border; increased concentration in the Precarpathians, as an area of old industrial development; reduced concentration in the Ukrainian Carpathians (the influence of the relief) and in the north of the region (historical and geographical factors); 19 administrative-territorial units of the second level do not have railways on their territory. In general, at the local level (districts, cities of regional subordination) the same patterns can be observed as at the regional level (regions).