Amid the war in Ukraine, prices for food, goods, and services have risen. Despite the challenging situation, Ukrzaliznytsia offers affordable ticket prices. The carrier has raised fares only for premium-segment trains.
The closer the departure date, the more expensive tickets for SV (luxury sleeper) and Intercity 1st class carriages may become.
Ukrzaliznytsia ticket costs depend on various coefficients. Prices can fluctuate based on exactly when the passenger purchases the ticket, the carriage occupancy level, and the timing of the trip. According to UNIAN, this is outlined in an order by the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine, as reported by the PromPolitInform portal.
It is noted that a specific coefficient applies to SV and Intercity 1st class carriages based on how far in advance the passenger purchases the ticket. A base coefficient of 1 applies when a ticket is purchased 20 days before departure. If purchased later, the rate increases:
15–19 days before departure – by 15% (coefficient 1.15);
10–14 days – by 17% (1.17);
5–9 days – by 20% (1.2);
1–4 days – by 25% (1.25);
within 24 hours of departure – by 30% (1.3).
For example, if the base ticket price is 1,000 UAH, purchasing it within 24 hours of departure results in a fare of 1,300 UAH based on this coefficient.
In addition to the purchase date, the time of year also affects the price. The highest coefficient (1.2) for SV (luxury) and 1st-class carriages applies during the summer—from June 11 through the end of August—effectively increasing the base fare by 20%. Conversely, from January 10 to 31, the coefficient is 0.85, meaning the price is reduced by 15%.
Furthermore, carriage occupancy may be taken into account for SV and 1st-class “Intercity” tickets. Low occupancy can lower the price by up to 20% (coefficient 0.8), while high occupancy can raise it by up to 20% (1.2). In practice, several factors can simultaneously influence the price: when the ticket is purchased, the timing of the trip, and the number of remaining seats in the carriage.
At the same time, a 10% discount applies to “Intercity+” trains—excluding first-class carriages—if a round-trip ticket is purchased.
Ukrzaliznytsia ticket prices in October
In October, Ukrzaliznytsia ticket prices remain unchanged.
As reported by Novyny.LIVE, the ticket price is determined by more than just distance or travel time. Specifically, the price is also influenced by the train category, carriage type, “premium service” coefficients, seasonality, the day of the week, and a range of other parameters established by the current tariff system.
This is precisely why two trains with similar routes—and even similar travel times—can differ significantly in price.
The carrier has kept tariffs for second-class tickets, as well as for compartment and open-plan (platskart) carriages, at socially affordable levels. The state has not revised these prices since 2021, so they will remain in effect through October 2026.
International tickets are significantly more expensive than domestic ones because their prices are pegged to the Swiss franc exchange rate. Additionally, Ukrzaliznytsia incurs separate fees for using PKP Intercity infrastructure.
