Ukraine and Bulgaria Work on Launching Train Service to Varna: Schedule Established

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister for Reconstruction and Minister for Communities and Territories Development Oleksiy Kuleba has announced that Ukraine and Bulgaria are collaborating to launch an international railway route to the city of Varna. The announcement comes as part of ongoing efforts to enhance transportation links between Ukraine and European Union countries.

Kuleba shared the details on social media, stating that preliminary agreements have already been reached regarding the route and schedule of the train service, emphasizing that the arrangements are designed to maximize convenience for Ukrainian passengers. The proposed route will connect Kyiv, Lviv, Chernivtsi, Suceava, Bucharest, and ultimately Varna.

In his remarks, Kuleba highlighted the importance of this initiative, saying, "Our goal is to launch this connection by the beginning of June." He noted that this decision is significant not only for improving transportation links with EU countries but also for facilitating travel for individuals, particularly children's groups, who traditionally go on vacation during the summer months.

Furthermore, Kuleba elaborated on the configuration of the route, which has been carefully designed to avoid delays in the movement of rolling stock. This strategic planning aims to prevent ticket prices from increasing and to preserve the resources of the train cars for other routes. The estimated travel time for the journey is expected to be up to 30 hours.

Regarding ticket pricing, Kuleba mentioned that both the Romanian and Bulgarian sides have tentatively agreed to include the route within the PSO (Public Service Obligation) mechanism, which would allow for reduced ticket prices. The next step in this process involves finalizing the tariff decision and launching a test train in collaboration with partners, Kuleba noted.

It is worth recalling that at the end of March, it was reported that Ukraine and Bulgaria plan to launch a passenger train through Romania in a test mode this summer. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to enhance regional connectivity and support travel options for citizens.

Additionally, in December, Ukrainian Railways announced the resumption of train services between Odesa and Chișinău for the first time since 2022, marking a significant step in restoring rail connections in the region. Furthermore, at the end of November, Ukrainian Railways announced the synchronization of several routes heading to the Polish cities of Chełm and Przemyśl with the train schedules from Poland to Germany, further enhancing international rail travel options.