Ukrzaliznytsia Reinstates Ticket Surcharge: How to Avoid the Fee.

Ukrzaliznytsia's Additional Surcharge

According to Novyny.live: Ukrzaliznytsia, Ukraine's state railway operator, has once again begun charging passengers a 7-hryvnia fee for tickets purchased at ticket counters for suburban trains. This surcharge was first introduced on February 3, suspended on February 6, but then reinstated on March 11. The fee applies exclusively to tickets bought at physical railway station counters.

Passengers wishing to avoid this extra cost can purchase tickets commission-free through the Ukrzaliznytsia mobile app. This policy of charging for in-person sales while offering free digital purchases is a common strategy to encourage online ticketing. However, the online ticket purchase option is currently available only in specific regions:

• Kyiv
• Vinnytsia
• Zhytomyr
• Poltava
• Mykolaiv
• Odesa
• Kirovohrad
• Dnipropetrovsk
• Chernihiv
• Khmelnytskyi
• Cherkasy
• Partially in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions

In a related change, the price for bedding sets on trains has also been adjusted and now costs 95 hryvnia. As noted by Oleg Vasyliev,

"Ukrzaliznytsia has reinstated the commission fee for suburban train tickets."

The return of the ticket counter fee raises concerns about the affordability and convenience of Ukrzaliznytsia's services for its passengers. While the commission-free online alternative exists, its limited regional availability creates a significant hurdle for many travelers. The public's negative reaction highlights that the cost of rail travel remains a sensitive issue requiring careful consideration from the railway operator.