Ukrzaliznytsia has announced the start of the peak season

Ukrzaliznytsia has entered the busiest rail season of 2026: 340,000 ticket requests are recorded daily, with only 80,000 seats available. Find out how to buy a train ticket this summer, when sales begin, and what options will help ensure you don’t miss out on a seat

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Ukrzaliznytsia has officially entered the busiest rail season of 2026. Every day, the company records 340,000 ticket requests, while actually transporting only 80,000 passengers. This means that right now, there are approximately four people vying for every seat, and this ratio will only grow: in the future, 6 to 7 people are expected to compete for each ticket, according to the carrier’s press service.

The company announced the continuation of its tradition of summer reports: data on the transportation of children’s groups and military personnel, top destinations, and actual capacity will be published weekly. “To be as transparent as possible in answering the question, ‘Where are the tickets?’, we are continuing our tradition of summer reports,” the statement reads.

Read also: SkyUp launches “Wings of Gratitude” — €1 tickets for combatants and veterans.

First-week statistics and a record-breaking train

During the first week of the peak season, 472,873 passengers traveled by rail. Train No. 104 Lviv–Lozova set an absolute record, carrying over 13,000 people in a single week.

In total, Ukrzaliznytsia plans to transport 7 million passengers over the three summer months—one of the highest figures in recent years.

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How to buy a ticket: three ways to ensure you don’t miss out

Ukrzaliznytsia offers clear recommendations for those who want to guarantee a seat on their desired train this summer:

1. Plan ahead. Ticket sales open 20 days before the departure date. The chances of buying a ticket are highest right when sales start—especially on popular routes. Those who wait until the last minute risk missing out.

2. Use the auto-purchase feature. This is one of the most convenient tools during peak periods. In the Ukrzaliznytsia app, select the desired train and date—and the app will automatically purchase a seat as soon as it becomes available. This feature is especially useful for popular destinations where tickets sell out within minutes of going on sale.

In addition, you can search for alternative routes to your destination. For example, on Visit Ukraine, you can find and book tickets for all modes of transport—train, bus, and air—in one place, without having to switch between different platforms.

Tickets for military personnel and their families

A special mechanism is in place for a specific category of passengers. Military personnel and their family members have access to tickets from a special reserve—these can be purchased through the Army+ app. This is a separate pool of seats that is not included in general sales and is available exclusively through this channel.

We remind you! Ukrzaliznytsia is updating its train schedule for summer 2026: the schedule includes new routes, extended routes to the Carpathians, and express trains. The changes take effect on June 28, and tickets are already available for booking. Read more about new routes, schedule changes, and updates on popular Ukrzaliznytsia routes.

Photo: Freepik

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