The Ukrainian Railways public joint-stock company (Ukrzaliznytsia) is planning to launch passenger trains to Austria and Bulgaria, Ukrzaliznytsia’s Board Chairman Wojciech Balczun announced at a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers.
"We plan to launch trains to Poland, Austria, and Bulgaria," said Balczun. He did not state the launch dates and destinations of the new trains.
A train operated by Russian Railways traveled from Ukraine to Bulgaria until 2014. Russian Railways later changed the route of the train to bypass Ukraine.
Ukrzaliznytsia launched a high-speed train from Kyiv to Przemysl (Poland) in December 2016. Hyundai trains are operated on the route. About 9,000 passengers used the new train service from 23 December to 13 January.
Ukrzaliznytsia restored direct rail links to Romania in December 2015, when it launched a train from Vadul-Siret (Chernivtsi region) to Bucharest and Suceava. A Kyiv-Bucharest through railcar was launched later.
Ukraine currently has direct rail links with Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Moldova, Belarus, and Russia.
As the CFTS portal reported, Ukrzaliznytsia may launch a train to another Polish city in the near future, following the launch of the train to Przemysl. “The next train may be launched to Chelm, where there is a 1520-mm rail track. Other destinations in Europe are also being considered, particularly in the Baltic States, in the medium term," said Ihor Romankiv, the director of passenger transportation and services at Ukrzaliznytsia.
In addition, negotiations on establishment of a rail link between Mukacheve and Budapest are underway.
