The Ukrainian Railways public joint-stock company (Ukrzaliznytsia) intends to index passenger transport rates in two phases. The company will raise passenger ticket prices by 12% on May 30 and by 12% on October 1, 2018, the Interfax Ukraine news agency reports.
The relevant order will be published on May 29, 2018.
According to the company, the last time it indexed passenger rates was in October 2014 (when it raised prices by 12%). Since then, the consumer price index has risen 192.2% and the industrial producer price index by 206.3%.
"Consequently, Ukrzaliznytsia made losses of UAH 3.6 billion from long-distance transportation of passengers in in 2017 alone. Even under such conditions, the company has almost doubled its wage bill for railway workers and expanded social welfare for workers in the past four years,” Ukrzaliznytsia said in response to a request from the news agency.
According to the press service of Ukrzaliznytsia, salaries in the industry have increased by more than 70% since 2016, including a 90% increase for certain categories of workers, particularly train drivers. “Reduction of the losses from passenger transportation will create prerequisites for the company to consider the possibility of further increasing the salaries of railway workers," the company said.
According to the press service, additional payment will not be charged for tickets that are bought until May 29, inclusive.
Ukrzaliznytsia previously planned to raise passenger ticket prices (excluding suburban train tickets) by 10% on April 1, 2018, and raise prices two more times this year.
