BRUSSELS, 28 March 2024: Yesterday evening, ALLRAIL member operator RegioJet launched the first ever Open Access 100% commercial passenger rail service between the EU and Ukraine. That means: it operates without subsidy. And it will operate daily – in both directions.

Furthermore, it is a night train, with both sleeper coaches (both couchettes & private compartments) and standard class seating, creating a new direct long distance service between the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Ukraine.

The very first train departed Prague last night at 21.52 CET (22.52 UKR time), has travelled via Košice in Slovakia and will arrive at its final destination in Chop, Ukraine, in just over one hour from now – at 10.35 UKR time (09.35 CET).

Chop is an important passenger railway hub, and there will be a guaranteed transfer to onward services operated by Ukrainian Railways.

RegioJet, the privately-owned operator of this new EU-Ukraine service will also invest its own funds into the infrastructure at Chop railway station. “It is a gift to the Ukrainian people”, states RegioJet’s founder Radim Jančura.

ALLRAIL’s Armand Duthil says: “Two years after the unprovoked invasion by Russia, it is important to now enhance cross-border connectivity – with the aim that one day soon, Ukraine will join the Single European Railway Area”.