Ukrzaliznytsia's Kyiv Urban Train is launching additional Kyiv City Express services starting the evening of October 27. According to reports, the decision was made against the backdrop of metro and bridge infrastructure repairs, which have significantly narrowed the usual cross-river routes. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing the official Telegram channel of the Kyiv Urban Train operated by Ukrzaliznytsia. On the first day, October 27, the additional trains will run during the evening rush hour across the Darnytsia and Northern bridges, while starting October 28, extra services will also be added during morning hours.
Reason for Launch: Repairs and Consequences of Shelling
The operator explains the need for additional trips by ongoing metro and bridge infrastructure repairs that limit capacity on key directions. The daily context highlights the gravity of the situation: on the morning of October 27, following ballistic shelling, transport movement in Kyiv became noticeably complicated — traffic jams formed on the left bank due to the closure of the South Bridge and the temporary suspension of train traffic on the green metro line between Osokorky and Chervonyi Khutir stations. Traffic jams were also recorded on the right bank, and police blocked roads near impact sites. Under these conditions, city authorities offered drivers alternative detour routes around the South Bridge and increased the number of buses, while Ukrzaliznytsia added electric trains as an additional way to cross the city.
Evening of October 27: Ten Trips Along the Semi-Ring
Ten additional trips were scheduled for the evening rush hour on October 27. The trains will run along the semi-ring route: Vydubychi — Berezniaki — Darnytsia — Rusanivka — Livoberezhna — Dniprovska (Nikilska Slobidka) — Voskresenska — Raduzhnyi — Pochaina and back. The first evening trip from Vydubychi will depart at 15:57, and from Pochaina at 15:59. Thus, on the first day, the additional service operates only in the evening and is aimed at passengers who need to cross the city bypassing closed and repaired sections.
Starting October 28 — Morning and Evening, Fifteen-Minute Intervals
Starting October 28, additional trains will run in both the mornings and evenings. In total, passengers will be offered sixteen extra trips, and the rush hour interval along the semi-ring will be from fifteen minutes. This means that during peak hours, passengers will have noticeably more options to travel between the banks without waiting, compared to a regular day when the semi-ring is served only by standard KUE trains.
Where to Board: Platform at Berezniaki
Ukrzaliznytsia specified which tracks the additional trains will depart from. At Berezniaki station, trains running in the Vydubychi — Darnytsia direction will arrive at the fourth track of the third platform. Passengers are advised to look for the correct platform in advance so as not to miss the train during the peak hour, when intervals are minimal and passenger flow is maximum.
Context: How the City Moved on October 27
The additional train services fit into the general transport picture of October 27. Following morning shelling on the left bank, traffic jams arose due to the closure of the South Bridge and the stop of the green metro line between Osokorky and Chervonyi Khutir; on the right bank, police blocked traffic near impact sites. The city offered alternative detour routes and increased the bus fleet, and the urban train became another working corridor between the banks. The combination of these measures, according to the operators, should reduce the load on the remaining open bridges and the metro, and ease the commute for Kyiv residents to work and home under limited infrastructure conditions.