The ticket will appear in your profile: we explain how the auto-purchase system works at Ukrzaliznytsia

Automatic ticket purchase on Ukrzaliznytsia is becoming increasingly popular among passengers who do not want to check the availability of seats on the trains they need every day. This feature automates the purchase process and increases the chances of getting a ticket during peak periods. Learn more about how automatic ticket purchase works, when the system may not work, and how to set up your application correctly

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Recently, in response to a request from Economic Truth, Ukrzaliznytsia provided a detailed explanation of how the automatic ticket purchase feature works in the carrier's mobile app. In the first few months of 2026, passengers have already created tens of thousands of such requests, most of which have resulted in successful purchases.

What is auto-purchase, how does it differ from regular monitoring, in which cases the system may not work, and why the time of creating a request matters — we will explain further in this article.

What is auto-purchase of tickets and why is it needed?

Auto-purchase is a feature in the Ukrzaliznytsia mobile app that allows you to avoid waiting manually for tickets to go on sale. The user sets the desired trip parameters in advance, and the system automatically purchases a ticket when a suitable seat becomes available.

This format is especially useful for popular destinations, dates with high demand, or last-minute trips when tickets sell out quickly.

According to the carrier, since the beginning of 2026, mobile app users have created nearly 150,000 requests for automatic purchase. About 65% of them resulted in successful ticket purchases, while the rest were cancelled by passengers themselves.

These figures show that the tool really works and is gradually becoming a common way to plan trips.

Ticket monitoring and auto-purchase: what is the difference?

The app offers two related features. The first is seat availability monitoring. It tracks the availability of tickets for a specific train or entire route and sends a push notification as soon as a seat becomes available for sale. To do this, it is important that notifications are enabled in your profile settings.

The second is automatic purchase itself. In this case, the user instructs the system to make the purchase immediately without any additional action on their part.

How to set up automatic ticket purchase in the Ukrzaliznytsia app?

In order for the system to purchase a ticket on its own, you need to authorise it through Diya.Signature, add passenger details and make the payment immediately. In fact, the funds are reserved until the ticket is found and issued.

One application can cover from one to four tickets. If monitoring is cancelled or the desired option does not appear on sale, the money is returned automatically, without additional applications or requests.

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Why might the ticket auto-purchase feature not work?

Even with an active request, the system may not always be able to complete the purchase. The most common reason is the lack of seats that fully meet the specified parameters. For example, if the user selects only lower shelves, adjacent seats, or a specific location in the carriage.

Another important factor is the order of requests. Auto-purchase works on a queue basis: the earlier the application was created, the higher its priority. If several users claim the same seat, the system processes the requests sequentially.

Where do the ‘new’ tickets for sale come from if there are no seats available?

Vacant seats appear not only at the start of sales. Tickets are returned by other passengers, and unused reservations that were previously reserved for privileged categories, such as military personnel or persons with disabilities and their companions, become available to the general public.

When such tickets become available, they are simultaneously displayed in all sales channels, including the auto-purchase system.

Planning a trip?

On the Visit Ukraine portal, you can quickly book train or bus tickets for the desired destination and dates, without having to search through different services.

Book your tickets in advance and plan your trip without stress!

Reminder! Winter travel is once again becoming a trend among Ukrainians, and the railway is actively adapting to demand. The new route simplifies travel from the south to the Carpathians, covering popular tourist destinations. Read about the new Ukrzaliznytsia train, its schedule, route and amenities for passengers here.

Photo: Ukrzaliznytsia

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