A new international train route connecting Kyiv, Ukraine, to Varna, Bulgaria, is expected to commence operations as early as June. This route will pass through key cities including Lviv, Chernivtsi, Suceava in Romania, and Bucharest.
Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba announced the initiative, highlighting that preliminary agreements have been reached with partner countries regarding the train’s schedule and route to ensure maximum convenience for passengers.
The proposed itinerary will follow this path: Kyiv – Lviv – Chernivtsi – Suceava – Bucharest – Varna. The Ukrainian government aims to launch this service at the beginning of June.
“This decision is significant for enhancing transportation links with EU countries and for the people, particularly for youth groups that traditionally travel for summer vacations,” Kuleba stated.
Discussions have also focused on the configuration of the route to minimize delays for the rolling stock. According to Kuleba, this approach aims to keep ticket prices stable and preserve the availability of train cars for other routes.
The estimated travel time is projected to be up to 30 hours, comparable to bus travel but expected to offer greater comfort and predictability. The final travel duration will be confirmed following a test run.
Negotiations regarding ticket pricing are ongoing. Preliminary discussions with Romanian and Bulgarian counterparts have indicated the potential inclusion of the route in the Public Service Obligation (PSO) framework, which could help lower ticket costs for passengers.
The next steps involve finalizing the fare structure and launching a test train in collaboration with partner countries.
Ukraine plans to initiate a new train service connecting Kyiv to Varna, enhancing transport links with the EU. The route aims to provide a comfortable travel option for passengers, with discussions ongoing about ticket pricing and logistics.