photo: EU-Ukraine Cooperation / Flickr/Lviv Railway Station
Ukraine is taking a major step toward European rail integration with the construction of a European standard-gauge railway (1435 mm) from Uzhhorod to the border, enabling direct connections to cities like Vienna, Prague, and Bucharest.
The development is part of a broader plan to align Ukraine’s railway system with the EU’s Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) and improve the efficiency of both passenger and freight transport.
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Euro Gauge Expansion: A Game Changer for Ukraine’s Railways?
The historical discrepancy in rail gauge between Ukraine (1520 mm) and Europe (1435 mm) has long hindered seamless connectivity. Now, according to Ukrinform, with the EU’s financial backing, Ukraine is accelerating efforts to close this gap, starting with the Uzhhorod-Chop corridor, which is expected to be operational in the third quarter of 2025. The railway will allow for direct travel between Uzhhorod and key European hubs such as Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, and Dresden, reducing transfer times at the border.
The initiative aligns with Ukraine’s commitment to TEN-T, which aims to unify European infrastructure across rail, road, air, and waterways. In December 2023, Ukraine and the EU signed an agreement to update TEN-T maps, integrating Ukrainian logistics routes while eliminating Belarusian and Russian rail links from the network, as reported by europa.eu.
Ambitious Plans: Kyiv, Lviv, and Odesa to Follow?
Looking beyond Uzhhorod, Ukraine aims to extend European gauge tracks to major cities such as Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa, Kharkiv, and Dnipro by 2030. The plan envisions a dual-track system, where high-speed international trains use the 1435 mm gauge, while the legacy 1520 mm gauge remains for domestic and freight transport. The EU has assignnned EUR 15.2 billion for this transformation, with key routes including Lviv-Mostyska (Poland) Kyiv-Lviv and Kyiv-Dorohusk (Poland) Lviv-Chop, connecting Ukraine to Slovakia and Hungary, Odesa-Chisinau (Moldova) and Lviv-Chernivtsi-Romanian border.
However, while plans are in place, Ukrinform reports that funding remains a major challenge. Ukraine currently lacks full EU membership, meaning that most financial support for rail infrastructure is project-based, rather than long-term guaranteed funding.
First Stop: Uzhhorod’s Euro Gauge Railway
The Uzhhorod project—a EUR 1.3 billion investment partially funded by the EU’s Connecting Europe Facility (CEF)—is seen as the first step in Ukraine’s broader European rail integration. With 50% of costs covered by EU grants, the project was made possible through exceptional wartime funding mechanisms, raising concerns over long-term financing for future railway expansions.
According to Vladimir Naumov, head of the Ukrainian Transport Infrastructure Reform Center, this 22 km stretch of new railway is a critical logistics link, facilitating the movement of goods and reducing transit times for freight and passengers. However, without private traction laws, Ukraine may face difficulties in securing enough rolling stock to meet demand.
"The new railway will allow cargo transfers to European-standard trains, cutting transfer delays. However, Ukraine needs to legalize private traction operations to make full use of this infrastructure," said Naumov to Ukrinform.
Freight vs. Passenger Priorities: The UZ Dilemma
While the Uzhhorod project prioritizes freight transport, its benefits extend to passenger travel, with customs clearance being completed in Ukraine rather than at border crossings. However, Ukrinform reports that, according to rail analyst Oleh Vasyliev, extending euro gauge tracks further into Ukraine is unlikely soon:
"Strategically, if the line reached Lviv, it could transform international travel. But for now, freight remains the priority. UZ’s (Ukrzaliznytsia or Ukrainian Railways) passenger routes are not profitable, and when the war ends, people will likely return to air travel."
Euro Gauge vs. Adaptive Rail Technology
Instead of laying new tracks, Ukraine could adopt Spain’s Talgo technology, which allows train wheels to automatically adjust between different gauges. This solution, while costly, could be a faster alternative to nationwide infrastructure overhauls. UZ has been in discussions with Spain’s Renfe and Talgo about implementing such systems, but funding remains a hurdle.
"Automatic gauge-changing trains could solve many logistical challenges. But the investment required is massive, making traditional track gauge conversion a more feasible option for now," Vasyliev added.
Will Ukraine’s Rail Integration Succeed?
Despite the ambitious plans, full rail integration with Europe remains a long-term vision. The sheer cost—over EUR 250 billion for a nationwide conversion—makes it an incredibly complex undertaking. The EU’s willingness to fund key segments like Uzhhorod-Chop is a promising start, but experts caution that Ukraine will need continued financial backing to complete its high-speed rail transformation.
"We see this as the first step in a long journey. Full European integration will require consistent EU support, economic stability, and continued infrastructure investments," said Naumov.
For now, the Uzhhorod project represents Ukraine’s strongest rail connection to Europe yet, paving the way for smoother logistics, increased trade, and improved passenger mobility in the post-war era.
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Source: RAILTARGET; Ukrinform; europa.eu