Ukrzaliznytsia aims to extend the European gauge railway to Lviv by 2027, creating better travel opportunities for residents and visitors heading to Vienna, Krakow, and Warsaw. This was announced by the company’s chairman, Oleksandr Pertzovsky, during the event “On the Path to Integration: Dialogue between Government and Business on Ukraine's Accession to the EU”.
“We have set a very ambitious goal – to connect Lviv with the European gauge by the end of 2027,” Pertzovsky stated.
He mentioned that besides Lviv and Chernivtsi, Kovel could serve as a significant hub for continuing the European gauge, linking Volyn and Rivne regions with Poland. The next task for Ukrzaliznytsia will be to integrate these hubs with the European gauge.
Pertzovsky also noted that the company seeks to coordinate with the European Union to simplify border control for rail transport, similar to that for road transport, so passengers do not waste time at the border.

It is worth reminding that by 2025, projects for passenger connections using European gauge from Mukachevo to Hungary and Slovakia, as well as from Rava-Ruska to Poland, will be implemented. This September, the European gauge was also extended from Chop to Uzhhorod - a distance of 22 km. Next year, the government plans to continue the implementation of projects aimed at developing the European gauge. Specifically, the electrification of the Chop-Uzhhorod section will be completed, allowing European locomotives to reach Uzhhorod on electric traction. Plans include starting construction of the European gauge in Lviv.