New ticket sales rules at Ukrzaliznytsia: changes effective April 25
Starting April 25, a new system for selling premium-class train tickets will take effect in Ukraine, under which prices will no longer be fixed. The cost of travel will now depend on demand, the season, the day of the week, and the time of purchase. For most passengers, base fares will remain unchanged. This was reported by the Ukrzaliznytsia press service.
Ukrzaliznytsia is launching dynamic pricing for a portion of tickets, changing its approach to setting travel costs in the premium segment. The new rules will take effect on April 25 and will apply only to a limited category of passengers.
This applies to SV cars and first-class cars on Intercity trains for domestic routes. For these tickets specifically, the price will no longer be fixed and will depend on a number of factors.
The company explains that the system will take into account seasonality, the day of the week, the date of purchase, and the train’s occupancy rate. The higher the demand and the fewer available seats, the more expensive the ticket may be, and vice versa—during less busy periods, prices may decrease.
Separately, seasonal price adjustments are planned, with 16 different fare zones in effect. The cheapest tickets are expected to be available midweek, while prices will traditionally rise on weekends. “The new ticket sales rules apply only to the premium segment and will affect less than 10% of passengers,” Ukrzaliznytsia notes.
At the same time, fares for open-seating cars, compartments, and second-class Intercity cars remain unchanged. They have not been revised since 2021 and will continue to be sold at the current fixed prices. The company is also introducing an indexation of ticket prices in SV international cars—by approximately 20%. However, for most international routes in compartment and standard classes, fares remain stable.
Ukrzaliznytsia explains that the new model is intended to distribute passenger traffic more evenly and reduce ticket shortages during peak periods. Similar systems have long been used in aviation and rail transport in Europe.
Ukrzaliznytsia plans to receive its first Alstom UA8AC electric locomotive in the first quarter of 2027, and a total of 55 such locomotives are expected to be delivered by the end of 2029.
