Ukraine Considers Replacing Trains with Buses Amid Russian Attacks: Lawmaker Explains Why.

Debating Railway Safety in Ukraine

According to Novyny.live: Lawmaker Volodymyr Kreydenko has raised concerns about the safety of rail travel in Ukraine, suggesting that alternative transport options like buses should be explored. He highlighted risks during passenger evacuations while aboard trains, particularly under attack conditions. This discussion comes as Ukraine faces ongoing infrastructure threats from Russian forces.

Speaking on the program Ranok.LIVE on March 18, 2023, Kreydenko proposed using buses instead of trains. In his view,

“road travel and bus journeys are safer than train trips”

“railways are confined to fixed tracks and cannot veer left or right”

Urgency of the Issue

Russian strikes on transportation in frontline areas underscore the pressing nature of this matter. On that same day, March 18, Russian forces attacked a locomotive in the Chernihiv region, injuring the driver and assistant. Additionally, a train traveling from Kyiv to Sumy came under fire while carrying approximately 200 passengers. Further shelling occurred in the Mykolaiv and Sumy regions, heightening anxiety over railway security across Ukraine.

Kreydenko acknowledged that halting rail services entirely is unlikely, but stressed that considering safer alternatives like buses is becoming increasingly necessary given current challenges.

The debate over railway safety in Ukraine unfolds against a backdrop of escalating Russian attacks endangering civilian lives. Amid active hostilities, it is crucial to evaluate various transport options that offer greater security and flexibility in dangerous situations. With its rigid routes, rail travel may not be the most suitable choice under these conditions, reinforcing the relevance of Kreydenko's proposal for alternative modes of transport.