The state-owned company Ukrzaliznytsia has announced the launch of a new flagship train, No. 51/52 'Yaroslav Mudryi', which will operate on the international route Kyiv – Przemysl (Poland). This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing the rail operator's press service. This new service will become another element in the company's expanding international network towards Poland and, through it, to other European countries.
Historical name and the link to 1861
The train's name refers to one of the key events in the history of Ukrainian rail transport: on November 4, 1861, the first train, 'Yaroslav', arrived in Lviv from Vienna. This date is officially considered the beginning of railway traffic on the territory of modern Ukraine. Ukrzaliznytsia emphasizes that the choice of the name 'Yaroslav Mudryi' is intended to evoke Ukraine's historical ties with Europe. Furthermore, the route of the new train partially repeats the historical Lviv – Przemysl connection, which operated as early as the 19th century and was one of the first international rail routes in the region.
Route, schedule and connections
From Kyiv, train No. 51/52 'Yaroslav Mudryi' departs at 20:12 and arrives in Przemysl, Poland, at 05:00. In the opposite direction, train No. 52/51 departs from Przemysl at 22:30 and arrives in the Ukrainian capital at 09:15. Thus, the train operates on a night schedule, allowing passengers to sleep during the journey and arrive at their destination by the start of the workday. In Przemysl, passengers can transfer to trains heading to Warsaw, Wroclaw, Prague, and Berlin, making the route part of a full-fledged transit chain deep into Europe.
New carriages and inclusive compartments
The train is formed of new carriages produced at a Ukrainian enterprise. Among the features of the new rolling stock is the presence of an inclusive compartment designed for passengers with limited mobility. According to Ukrzaliznytsia, the new carriages feature several technological solutions, including climate control that operates even when the train is stationary, which increases passenger comfort at any time of the year.
Context: expansion of international routes to Poland
The launch of 'Yaroslav Mudryi' is part of Ukrzaliznytsia's broader strategy to develop international traffic. Recently, the company announced the launch of three international trains to Poland, one of which was the flagship train No. 23/24 'Mykhailo Hrushevskyi' on the Kyiv – Chelm route. Simultaneously, six new carriages are being introduced on the Kharkiv – Przemysl international route. The combination of these decisions forms a network of regular services connecting Ukrainian cities with Polish ones and, through them, with Central European destinations.
Fleet modernization: 44 new carriages since the beginning of 2026
Since the beginning of 2026, Ukrzaliznytsia has received 44 new passenger carriages of Ukrainian production, with another 16 planned to be delivered by the end of this year. These carriages are distributed across both domestic and international routes, allowing the company to simultaneously update its fleet and expand its route geography. The launch of the 'Yaroslav Mudryi' train on the eve of the anniversary of the first railway connection in Ukraine gives the event an additional symbolic accent and emphasizes the continuity between the history and modernity of the Ukrainian railway.
