When do Ukrzaliznytsia tickets appear and how are they distributed by station?

Ukrainians often face a lack of available seats on trains and the inability to buy tickets. Find out more about how the Ukrzaliznytsia ticket reservation system works and when the chances of finding a seat in a car are higher

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In the summer of 2025, many Ukrainians complained about the lack of tickets on trains. It was extremely difficult to buy tickets even for the lowest seat classes. As Ukrzaliznytsia later explained, this problem was caused by high demand and a lack of railcars. How the Ukrzaliznytsia ticket booking system works and how to increase your chances of buying a ticket are described further in the article.

For a list of all international trains to and from Ukraine, as well as their schedules and prices, see our previous article.

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When does ticket sales start?

Domestic trains

Tickets for most trains in Ukraine go on sale at 8:00 a.m. 20 days before departure. From this time, tickets become available in the Ukrzaliznytsia app, on the website booking.uz.gov.ua, and at station ticket offices.

However, there are several important exceptions:

● For destinations in Pavlohrad, Kherson, Mykolaiv, and partially Kramatorsk, Sumy, and Chernihiv, sales start only 10 days before departure.

● The same rule applies to regional trains (electric trains and diesel trains numbered 800–899).

Suburban trains

Tickets for suburban trains can only be purchased on the day of departure and only at station ticket offices.

International connections

● Poland (Przemyśl, Chełm, Warsaw): ticket sales start at 9:00 a.m. 20 days before the date of travel.

● Moldova, Slovakia, Austria, and Hungary: tickets can be purchased from 8:00 a.m. 20 days before the date of travel.

How to buy UZ tickets for foreigners, as well as what determines the prices of train tickets — we explain here.

When do ticket sales close?

You can buy a ticket until the train leaves the station. This works both for buying a ticket at a station ticket office and online.

How to get to Ukraine via Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Moldova — read here.

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How and when do new tickets and additional empty cars appear?

As explained by Ukrzaliznytsia in a commentary to Ekonomichna Pravda, ticket sales begin with the opening of one car of each type (SV, compartment, reserved seat). When there are fewer than four seats left in a particular type of car, Ukrzaliznytsia adds a new car of the same type. This is repeated until all seats are sold out.

Helpful tip!

Foreigners also need medical insurance to enter Ukraine, which covers treatment and assistance in emergencies, including war risks. This is not only a requirement but also a practical necessity for safe travel.

How are tickets distributed between stations or why are there no seats available?

Ukrainians often face the fact that there are no tickets, for example, from Kyiv to Lviv for the Kyiv-Premysl train, but you can buy a ticket for the same train to Przemyśl. As explained by UZ, this is due to the fact that each station along the train's route is allocated a certain number of seats for all categories of cars. However, priority is given to ticket sales from the initial to the final station, regardless of whether it is the first or other day of ticket sales. The only exception is the last day before the train departure. Thus, if there are still tickets left the day before departure, the norms are lifted and all seats become available for all stations on the route.

“In other words, if there are 20 tickets from Kyiv to Lviv and 100 tickets to Przemyśl, then there are 100 tickets available for any station along the route in a day,” explains EP.

What you can import and export from Ukraine and customs rules for crossing the border - read here.

How does ticket monitoring work at UZ?

The Ukrzaliznytsia mobile application has a ticket monitoring function. The user can set up notifications, and when tickets for the required direction appear, he or she will immediately receive a message. In addition, through monitoring, it is possible to automatically purchase a ticket as soon as it becomes available. To do this, you need to log in to the application through Diia.Signature and pay for the ticket (the funds are returned to the account if the required tickets do not appear or if the user cancels the monitoring). However, keep in mind that automatic redemption does not work for trains to Poland (except for Intercity+) and for the Kyiv - Vienna route, for these flights you can only receive a notification when a ticket is available.

Tips to increase the chances of buying a ticket

1. Buy tickets immediately after the opening of sales (depending on the flight, this is 20-30 days before departure, at 08:00-09:00 am).

2. Use the monitoring function to receive notifications about new tickets and automatic purchases.

3. Check the availability of tickets the day before departure - the norms are removed.

If you cannot find a direct route for your destination or do not have time to buy tickets, there is an alternative!

Transfers from airports or countries bordering Ukraine can be the perfect choice for those who want to avoid the hassle of transfers and large suitcases. This service is available through Visit Ukraine, which provides a convenient and reliable way to get to the city without any extra effort.

Reminder! Travelling to Ukraine by train from abroad has become more convenient thanks to international routes connecting the country with European cities. This way of travelling allows you not only to enjoy comfort but also to save time. Can a foreigner from abroad come to Ukraine by train and what are the alternatives for a comfortable trip to Ukraine — we tell you here.

Want to know more? Read the latest news and useful materials about Ukraine and the world in the News section.

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Visit Ukraine Insurance – insurance covering military risks for entry and travel in Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Car Insurance – car insurance with extended coverage in Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Legal Advice – comprehensive legal support on entry to Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Tickets – bus and train tickets to/from Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Tours – the largest online database of tours to Ukraine for every taste;

Visit Ukraine Hotels – hotels for a comfortable stay in Ukraine;

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