The summer season traditionally becomes a test of strength for Ukraine's railway infrastructure. Demand for trips to the Carpathians and the seaside grows manifold, turning ticket purchasing into a complex logistical task. Ukrzaliznytsia (UZ) reports that in early June, it recorded about 340,000 daily ticket requests, which was four times the number of available seats.

The situation at stations and on trains reflects reality: occupancy rates across all routes remain at 95–100%. During the first month of summer, the company has already transported 2.5 million passengers. Among them are 85,000 children and 14,000 military personnel who used the special "Army+" service. The international route is particularly popular: only train No. 705/706 "Kyiv — Przemyśl" transported 57,000 people during this period.

Fighting the shortage: new carriages and schedules

To alleviate the acute shortage of seats, railway workers are taking operational measures. In June, the rolling stock fleet was supplemented with six new passenger carriages and three modernized children's carriages. Additionally, a new schedule was introduced on June 28, aimed at optimizing routes to meet current passenger needs.

The company is also actively scheduling additional trips to the most popular resort areas — Rahov, Mukachevo, and Solotvyno. The effectiveness of these steps is already visible: on the key Kyiv — Lviv route, the ratio of demand to supply has improved from 5:1 to 4:1. UZ emphasizes that all available resources are maximally engaged in work, and the schedule is adjusted taking into account the capacity of sections and economic expediency.

Future plans and social obligations

Despite high demand for resort routes, Ukrzaliznytsia assures that it does not plan to cancel regional or suburban trips without valid reasons. Stable communication between all regions remains a priority. At the same time, part of the rolling stock is constantly reserved for performing critically important tasks: evacuation trips, medical transport, diplomatic missions, and organized children's groups.

Strategic infrastructure development is aimed at renewing the fleet. In 2026, 1,184 passenger carriages are planned to be repaired at their own facilities. As part of the state program for 2025–2028, the purchase of 100 new carriages annually is planned. In 2024–2025, the company already received 66 new carriages of Ukrainian production, and in the current year, a contract for the manufacture of another 100 units has been signed, of which 60 are planned to be put into operation this year.

Discounts for passengers

Special tariffs apply for families with children. Children up to 5 years old can travel for free without a separate seat, while passengers from 6 to 13 years old receive a 25% discount. On international routes, conditions depend on the destination country: separate rules apply for trips to EU countries and Moldova, determining the size of discounts and conditions for free travel.