On 24 May, new double-line Beskidy tunnel was opened in the Carpathians on the border of Lviv and Zakarpattya regions. The old single-line tunnel was built in 1886. Traffic capacity of the tunnel increased from 47 to 100 pairs of trains per day, and throughput rate rose up from 15-40 to 60-70 km/h. Alexander Ganuschin, the Head of Lviv Regional Council, says: “We need to launch Intercity train that will pass through new Beskidy tunnel to establish a high-speed connection between Kyiv, the capital of the country, and Uzhgorod, the center of Zakarpattya oblast`. Introduction of this high-speed route became possible due to increase of Beskidy tunnel throughput rate, and it will give an additional integration impulse to several regions of the Western Ukraine. Railway employees have already calculated total time of journey from Lviv to Uzhgorod by the new train – it will take 4.5 hours. This is much faster than travelling by a car. I think that launch of new Intercity train connecting Kyiv with Uzhgorod will significantly increase flow of tourists and will solve problem of Zakarpattya region remoteness from Ukrainian capital.”.

Read: Ultimate Guide to Ukraine: Train Travel
On June 16, Ukrainian railways (“Ukrzaliznytsia”) launched an updated train route between the central Ukraine and Carpathian region. The existing route No 143/144 Kyiv – Ivano-Frankivsk/Vorokhta will now start in Kremenchug. On even dates the train will go to Vorokhta direction, and on odd dates it will ride to Kremenchug. With the help of the new elongated route, the train will connect Kremenchug with Vinnitsa, Khmelnytsky, Ternopil, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk and recreational area of Ukrainian Carpathians. The dwellers of such cities as Boryspil, Khorol and other will also get a chance to go to the Western Ukraine by direct connection.
Ukrzaliznytsia has recently announced launch of a new high-speed train going to south direction for the summer period. Seasonal Kyiv – Odesa Intercity train No 761/762 welcomes passengers from June 15 to September 2.
Read: International Train Destinations From Ukraine
Currently, new railway road between Kyiv and Boryspil international airport is under construction. As of May 22, 2018, 25% of construction works have been accomplished. Ukrzaliznytsia has announced that train ticket will cost UAH 80 and the way from Kyiv to Boryspil will take 35–40 minutes. Construction of a flyover bridge across Kyiv-Boryspil highway will begin in the nearest time. The end of all works and launch of the new road is scheduled for December 1, 2018.

And now let`s proceed to the less pleasant but not less important news. In the nearest future, the prices for railway tickets will rise up by 25%. The growth of prices will come in two stages: during the first stage (on May 30, 2018) prices for all train tickets to be increased by 12%, and during the second stage (October 1, 2018) the prices will rise again by 12%. Please note that if you were lucky enough to buy some train tickets before May 30, 2018, you will have your trip based on an old price without paying additional fees. Interesting fact: the last increase of train ticket prices by Ukrzaliznytsia took place rather long time ago – in 2014.
To finish our article with some positive news, we gladly inform that Ukrainian railways jointly with Romanian railways (“Căile Ferate Române”) have announced launch of two both-way trains on the route Chernivtsi (Ukraine) – Suceava (Romania) with change on the station Vadul Siret (Ukraine). The new routes are going to welcome their first travelers on January 1, 2019.
Train travelling in Ukraine offers new opportunities every month and is becoming more and more comfortable. Enjoy your iourney!
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