Starting from December 14, 2025, Ukrainian Railways (Ukrzaliznytsia) will implement a new timetable for 2026 that introduces a clock-face schedule for trains running between Kyiv and Lviv. This is one of the busiest routes in the country, and trains will now depart every hour on a consistent and predictable schedule.
Most of these services will run year-round, with only a few exceptions during periods of low demand.
What is a clock-face schedule:
This system ensures trains depart at regular, fixed intervals — such as every hour. It is widely used in countries with advanced railway systems like Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands. In Ukraine, this model has already been successfully tested through the Kyiv City Express project.
Benefits for passengers:
- predictability: easy-to-remember departure times;
- regularity: minimal wait times between trains;
- convenience: reduced congestion on peak-time trains.
Benefits for Ukrzaliznytsia:
- more even passenger distribution throughout the day;
- improved logistics planning;
- minimized peak-hour pressure.
The introduction of this clock-face schedule between Lviv and Kyiv brings Ukraine one step closer to adopting European railway standards, enhancing travel comfort and service efficiency.