Ukraine and Slovakia to Launch Kyiv-Bratislava Rail Connection by Year-End

Ukraine and Slovakia are set to expand their transportation links with a new rail connection between Kyiv and major Slovak cities, including Bratislava and Košice, by the end of the year. In addition, both countries are working to improve road connectivity.

Deputy Minister of Communities, Territories, and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine, Serhiy Derkach, shared these updates following intergovernmental consultations between the two nations. The rail service will include a convenient transfer in Chop, a town in the Zakarpattia region of Ukraine, with ongoing work to construct a narrow-gauge railway to Uzhhorod.

According to Derkach, this route is expected to be operational by 2025-2026, with plans to establish direct connections between Bratislava, Chop, and Uzhhorod. Furthermore, the two governments are working on the development of the “Pavlove — Mat’ovce” border crossing, currently used for freight transport. An agreement is underway to adapt it for passenger services.

The discussions also focused on improving automobile border crossings, with both countries finalizing a joint customs and border control agreement. The document is currently under review by Slovakia and will soon be submitted to the European Commission for feedback. The two governments also agreed to expand the “Uzhhorod — Vyšné Nemecké” crossing to include pedestrian lanes, while Kyiv continues efforts to modernize the existing facilities, including a new passenger terminal and separation of freight and passenger traffic.

Ukraine is also looking to increase the capacity of the “Malyi Bereznyi — Ubl’a” crossing, with plans to allow vehicles up to 5 tonnes. Slovakia is currently assessing the feasibility of this proposal, which would help ease congestion at the Uzhhorod crossing.

Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal announced plans to introduce a Kyiv-Bratislava rail service, which will include carriages continuing to Vienna. This announcement was made during a joint press conference with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in Zakarpattia. Shmyhal highlighted that the initiative builds upon previous discussions between the two countries, including the recently launched direct rail connection between Kyiv and Košice, which was proposed by Slovakia.