Enhanced Railway Schedule for 2025-2026 Unveiled

Ukrzaliznytsia has introduced a new timetable for 2025–2026, effective from December 14. This includes the launch of 11 new trains, with 8 international and 3 domestic, along with significant enhancements to existing routes.

The demand for train travel continues to rise. Over the past 11 months, Ukrzaliznytsia has transported more than 25 million passengers, which is nearly half a million more than last year. During the summer, the company tested a model of additional transportation utilizing day trains, allowing it to provide over 7,000 extra seats on peak days, which has formed the basis for the 2026 schedule planning.

Next year, Ukrzaliznytsia aims to increase the supply of seats during peak periods by 20% and provide an additional 2 million seats throughout the year.

«We update the timetable based on the real needs of people. This is a priority. We are talking about faster routes, new direct connections, and ensuring more seats for passengers during peak times. We are launching new routes and updating existing international connections,» stated Oleksiy Balesta, Deputy Minister for Community Development and Territories of Ukraine.

In international connections, 8 new routes are planned. Specifically, 3 new trains to Przemyśl and 1 to Chełm will be added in the connection with Poland. This was made possible through the purchase of new carriages under the state program for updating passenger rolling stock.

Key updates for domestic connections include:

• New Train No. 47/48 (Kramatorsk) Barvinkove — Chop

This route is aimed at residents of the frontline Donetsk region who currently use a multimodal transport scheme. The additional service improves access to rehabilitation and recovery centers in the Carpathians and Transcarpathia, providing quick transfer to international routes in Chop.

• New Train No. 33/34 Kryvyi Rih — Ivano-Frankivsk

This train will connect central regions of Ukraine with tourist destinations in Prykarpattia.

• Updated Route Train No. 113/114 Kharkiv — Uzhhorod

The historic «Bakhmut» train will be extended to Transcarpathia. This connection is critically important for residents of Polissia and Volyn, who will gain direct access to the Carpathian locations and Transcarpathia while maintaining connections with Sumy and Kharkiv regions.

The new schedule will include over 40 routes to mountain resorts and rehabilitation centers, more than half of which come from frontline areas. A regional train Lviv — Vorokhta will regularly operate on a modern diesel train, which has become popular among passengers and will enhance transfer options during the ski season.

Ticket sales for the new timetable for dates after December 14 are already open in the application and on the Ukrzaliznytsia website.