Europe is getting closer: Ukraine is preparing to launch another important rail route. The new route to Bulgaria promises to make travel easier, reduce the burden on buses and strengthen transport integration with the EU. Find out when the service will launch, what the route will be and what is known about tickets
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Ukraine continues to expand the reach of its passenger rail services to Europe. Bulgaria is set to become a new strategic destination, with plans to resume direct services between the two countries in the near future. This move will not only simplify travel arrangements for citizens but will also mark an important step towards Ukraine’s integration into the single European transport area.
Ukraine–Bulgaria train: when will it launch?
The first test run on the new route is scheduled for the summer of 2026—likely in June. Details about the preparations for the launch emerged following a meeting between Oleksii Kuleba, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for Recovery, and Korman Ismailov, Bulgaria’s Minister of Transport.
The parties confirmed that there is genuine passenger demand for the route. In this regard, the relevant authorities in Ukraine, Romania and Bulgaria are joining forces to ensure the technical readiness of the infrastructure and to launch the train as soon as possible, with a view to the peak of the tourist season.
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Ukraine–Bulgaria train route
The new rail link will be a transit route: the journey from Ukraine to Bulgaria runs through Romanian territory. This requires close coordination between the transport authorities of the three countries. The Ministry of Community and Territorial Development emphasises that this project goes beyond mere convenience for tourists. The development of such routes strengthens ties within the Danube Cluster and contributes to the modernisation of road and rail infrastructure, which has been discussed at the highest level in Kyiv.
The train will run along the route: Kyiv — Lviv — Chernivtsi — Suceava — Bucharest — Varna. The route was designed to ensure maximum convenience for passengers while avoiding downtime for the rolling stock. Thanks to this, it was possible to avoid raising ticket prices and preserve the rolling stock for other routes.
The estimated travel time will be up to 30 hours. The Ministry of Development notes that the bus route takes the same amount of time, but passengers will be able to travel more comfortably by train.
At present, the exact timetable, the list of cities where the train will stop, and the fare are still being finalised. The organisers of the service promise to publish a detailed timetable and open ticket sales immediately after the completion of technical consultations and the successful completion of a test run.
Oleksii Kuleba noted that launching this route is a priority, as demand for travel to Bulgaria remains consistently high. The ministers’ joint efforts are aimed at making the international service available to Ukrainians as early as this summer season, providing a comfortable alternative to coach travel and private vehicles.
Reminder! Ukrainian Railways has published new safety rules for passengers. Find out what to do when the air-raid siren sounds, what to do after leaving the carriage, and when you can return to the train!
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