Ukrzaliznytsia is changing electric train fares: tickets will get more expensive across Ukraine

Ukrzaliznytsia is switching to a new fare system for suburban trains. From September 15, it has been in effect in three regions; from September 22, it will cover four more regions, and later it will be rolled out across Ukraine. The fare will range from 30 to 150 UAH depending on the distance.

This was reported by the press service of JSC Ukrzaliznytsia.

Instead of a large number of fare ranges, the company is introducing a six-zone system. Each zone will cover a certain distance, and the fare within it will be fixed regardless of how many kilometers the passenger has traveled.

The new fare schedule is as follows:

• up to 50 km — 30 UAH;
• 51–90 km — 55 UAH;
• 91–130 km — 75 UAH;
• 131–170 km — 95 UAH;
• 171–250 km — 115 UAH;
• over 250 km — 150 UAH.

Thus, for some passengers the fare will increase. In particular, the price may rise for trips closer to the beginning of the respective fare zone, since now a single price will apply for the entire distance range.

Ukrzaliznytsia emphasized that passengers who travel the maximum distance within their fare zone will hardly feel the price increase.

The transition to the new system will take place gradually. From September 15, new fares are effective in Kyiv, Chernihiv, and Zhytomyr regions.

From September 22, the six-zone model will be introduced in four more regions — Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, and Cherkasy regions. Later it is planned to extend it to the rest of Ukraine's regions. Exact dates for them have not yet been announced.

Ukrzaliznytsia explained the revision of the fare model by the difficult financial situation of suburban transportation. According to the company, a number of local administrations chronically fail to compensate the carrier for the costs of transporting privileged categories of passengers.

At the same time, the cost of electricity, fuel, and other resources has increased in recent years, which has raised the cost of suburban transportation.

The company expects that the new system will partially reduce losses without sharply raising fares. The funds received are also planned to be directed to the repair and modernization of suburban trains. Ukrzaliznytsia believes that the changes will help maintain existing suburban routes and stops.