Direct Night Train to Start Between Romania and Ukraine
A new direct night train service between Bucharest and Kyiv has been launched, finally linking Romania and Ukraine again by rail.
New train between Romania and Ukraine
The new night train between Romania and Ukraine, operated by Ukrzaliznytsia, the Ukrainian Railways, will run daily.
From Romania to Ukraine, the night train departs Bucharest Gara de Nord at 19:10 and arrives at Kyiv-Pasazhyrskyi the following day at 19:34, after just over 24 hours of travel.
In the opposite direction, it leaves Kyiv-Pasazhyrskyi at 06:30 and reaches Bucharest the next day at 06:47.
The new train begins running from Kyiv to Bucharest on 10 October, while in the reverse direction it starts on 11 October.
Route
The new Bucharest-Kyiv night train does not follow the most direct railway line between Romania and Ukraine, which crosses the border between Vicșani and Vadul-Siret.
Rather, the Bucharest-Kyiv train is routed via Moldova, as it crossing the Romanian-Moldovan border at Ungheni, and the Moldovan-Ukrainian border between Vălcineț and Mohyliv-Podil’s’kyi.
This detour contributes to the train’s rather long travel time, compounded by the poor condition of the railways in Moldova.
Along the route, the Bucharest–Kyiv night train also stops at Ploiești Sud, Buzău, Adjud, Bacău, and Iași in Romania, among others.
In Ukraine, it calls at Zhmerynka and Vinnytsia.
Ticket price of the Bucharest-Kyiv night train
The night train between Romania and Ukraine is best booked online via the Ukrzaliznytsia website, although tickets can also be bought at the stations in Bucharest and Kyiv.
The Bucharest–Kyiv night train offers only berths in 4-person kupé coaches, which are similar to couchettes on European sleeper trains.
Platzkart (open-plan coaches with 54 bunks) and Spalny Vagon (2-berth sleepers) are not currently available on this Ukrainian night train.
A berth in a kupé costs 3,969 Ukrainian hryvnia, which currently converts to €82.
Other facilities on the train
Between Bucharest and Ungheni, the Moldovan border station, the coaches of the Bucharest-Kyiv night train are attached to the Prietenia night train, which runs daily between Bucharest and Chişinău.
This means that passengers booked in the coaches bound for Kyiv can most likely use the buffet coach on the Prietenia night train between Bucharest and Ungheni.
At Ungheni, the Bucharest-Kyiv coaches are detached and form a new train running north to the Moldovan-Ukrainian border, while the Prietenia train continues to Chişinău.
In the reverse direction, the situation is the same, with the coaches from Kyiv attached to those of the Prietenia in Ungheni, forming a single train for the final part of the journey into Romania.
Otherwise, there are no dining car facilities on the night train between Romania and Ukraine, so make sure you bring your own supply of food and drinks.
Just like on any other Ukrainian night train, you can buy tea from the provodnitsa, or use the samovar to make your own coffee, tea, or pot noodles if you bring the supplies.
Onward connections
The new night train between Ukraine and Romania is also convenient for Ukrainians wishing to travel to Bulgaria.
In Bucharest, this train connects conveniently with the daily service across the Romanian-Bulgarian border to Ruse and Sofia.
During the summer, it also connects to the seasonal Bucharest-Istanbul night train, allowing travel from Turkey to Ukraine with just one connection in Romania.
Read my guides on train travel in Romania and train travel in Bulgaria for more information about the domestic trains in these countries and international rail connections.
Conclusion
A new night train is being launched between Bucharest and Kyiv, restoring the rail connection between Romania and Ukraine.
This new night train between Romania and Ukraine runs via Ungheni in Moldova and offers has 4-berth kupé coaches.
