The “3000 kilometers” program from Ukrzaliznytsia is designed to relieve peak periods and will extend to long-distance travel in order to make important travel accessible, including to those who do not have enough money for it today. It starts in parallel with systemic state support for passenger transportation in Uzbekistan - compensation from the state for the real cost of tickets, which is a European practice.

The company's press service explained in more detail how the initiative will work.. Representatives of Ukrzaliznytsia joked that they received 3,000 questions about “3,000 kilometers”.

Ukrainians will be able to get a free ticket not during peak hours (or periods), but during less busy times, when there are enough free seats.

For example: in August, when it is extremely difficult to get tickets anywhere, the railway carries 2.6 million passengers, and in February – only 1.9 million. Accordingly, during times of lighter loads it is possible to refill the seats.

Also, “kilometers” will encourage trips on days when passenger traffic is usually reduced (for example, not on Friday evenings to Lviv, when everyone goes, but, say, on Tuesday or on the morning train for “kilometers”).

UZ explained that even without additional flights they can offer up to 200-250 thousand seats per month during such periods of low demand.

“The focus of the program will be on helping residents of front-line communities who suffer the most from shelling and power outages: trips beyond “kilometers” will be available specifically for trains from there,” the press service noted.

This distance symbolically covers the longest existing round-trip railway route in Ukraine – from Zaporozhye to Uzhgorod. Therefore, this “will give the opportunity to open the country to everyone, no matter where anyone lives,” said the Ukr..

“The program applies to long-distance travel, and, of course, we are talking specifically about domestic flights and not about the premium segment. This is a targeted opportunity for those who have a need, and those who do not - of course, can buy tickets without changes.

At the same time, we are also thinking about options for unused kilometers to make it possible to use them usefully,” explained company representatives.

Along with this initiative, a systematic (albeit still partial) compensation for the real cost of passenger transportation is being rolled out in Ukraine..

Ukrzaliznytsia assured that this will improve the financial situation for the railway, preserve jobs, and at the same time - accessibility of travel for all Ukrainians.

Additional passengers who will be traveling " The running of passenger trains is subsidized by the state, so it is important that all routes are used as efficiently as possible and that as many passengers as possible can travel year-round.

And in parallel, additional services will be introduced for those who are willing to pay, in the categories of CB, 1st class, international trains. The corresponding additional income will also cover the cost of free “kilometers”.

“We are gradually moving to the European model: the state began in 2025 and will continue in 2026 to at least partially finance the real cost of passenger transportation.

This is a European practice and, of course, for us in Ukraine now it is very important: the majority will not be able to afford tickets at their real price, and maintaining railway routes, including to front-line cities, is vital. Funding is needed to pay railroad workers uninterruptedly, quickly restore infrastructure, and to travel even in the absence of electricity,” the Ukrzaliznytsia explained..

Full text of the message:.

– On November 1, President of Ukraine Zelensky announced the preparation of a program that will enable Ukrainians to travel for free with the help of Ukrzaliznytsia..

– Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Sviridenko said that the government will also launch a new aid package “Winter Support”.