Border Crossings: Poland - Ukraine

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Note that there is a one hour time difference between Poland and Ukraine. Users should check whether or not Ukraine is using Daylight Saving Time.

(Chełm -) Dorohusk PKP - Yahodyn UZ (- Kovel')

[D] The cross-border section comprises one 1435 mm gauge track and one 1520 mm gauge track. 1435 mm gauge track extends eastwards to a shipment yard at Kovel', 59 km east of Yahodyn. 1520 mm gauge track extends westwards to an oil installation a few km west of Chełm. Both lines are used by freight over their full length. The 1435 mm gauge track is electrified as far as Dorohusk.

PKP operates a long standing Warszawa - Kyïv overnight service on the 1435mm gauge tracks to/from Yahodyn, where gauge changing takes place by means of bogie exchange. The train thus changes to/from PKP diesel traction for the short cross-border journey.

A daytime pair of Ukrainian DMUs was introduced on 12 June 2017 between Kovel and Chelm, coinciding with the end of visa requirements for Ukrainians. This was the first use of the 1520 mm gauge track by a passenger service since at least June 2000. From 24 August 2017 this was extended within Ukraine to run from/to Zdolbuniw.

(Sławków -) Hrubieszów LHS - Izov LHS

[D] This 1520mm gauge line is the "Linia Hutnicza Szerokotorowa" (Broad-Gauge Steel Line) between Sławków near Katowice and Vladimir in Ukraine. A limited long distance International passenger service ended a number of years ago, so current use is just freight and "road-train" services. Letters of Intent to electrify from Kowel in the Ukraine to Hrubieszów were signed in April 2017. In 2009 cross border staff trains ran to the railway carriage works at Hrubieszów Towarowy from Izov with timings based on shift patterns but it is not recommended to attempt to travel due to Ukraine Border controls. This line was formerly part of PKP and was called "Steel and Sulphur Railway".

Hrebenne PKP - Rava Rus'ka UZ

[D] The PKP-operated 1435mm gauge through service to/from Warszawa which only commenced on 2 June 1996 was withdrawn after 3 June 2005. No freight traffic can operate, as the tracks to the interchange sidings at Rava Rus'ka have been lifted.

Werchrata PKP - Rava Rus'ka UZ

[D] A Broad gauge freight only crossing, now worked by UZ only and in 2006 with just a daily freight to a factory at Werchrata. The 1520 mm lines on the Polish side serving transhipment sidings are all out of use.

(Przemyśl -) Medyka PKP - Mostys'ka 2 UZ (- L'viv)

[E] PKP and UZ operate a daily overnight service between Wrocław/Warszawa and L'viv/Lvov. The 1435 and 1520 mm gauge lines which take different alignments within Poland were previously used on alternate days in each direction, one direction changed gauge at Mostys'ka 2 by means of an open air SUW 2000-compatible gauge changer, and the other the same night using jacks and a manual bogie change at Przemyśl. This arrangement ended as the SUW 2000 equipment no longer appears used with all gauge changing at Przemyśl. See Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services (Przemyśl Główny –) Hurko – Medyka (– Mostys'ka 2).

Additionally from 23 December 2016 UZ introduced a direct Kyiv-L'viv-Przemyśl daytime Intercity service using a modern 1520 mm gauge EMU with on board customs control, and this was doubled on 24 August 2017 from when Ukrainian Citizens no longer needed visas to visit the EU, this service serving a different route between L'viv and Kyiv.

UZ works BG freight trains to yards within Poland with PKP working SG freights to Mostys'ka 2 as at least one of the two cross border tracks is interlaced. On the Polish side the 1520 mm gauge continues to Zurawica; on the Ukrainian side 1435 mm gauge track ends at a transhipment facility 3km east of Mostys'ka 2 station.

(Przemyśl) Malhowice PKP - Nyzhankovychi UZ (- Dobromyl' - Khyriv)

[D] Closed as a through route, formerly interlaced dual gauge 1435/1520mm. Until early 1995, PKP operated 1435mm gauge corridor trains through Ukraine via this route and the Krościenko - Star'iava crossing. By July 2004, significant lengths of the 1435mm gauge track within Ukraine had been lifted north of Dobromyl', with PKP 1435mm gauge freight remaining on a stub from Przemyśl to Przemyśl Bakończyce. There has been recent heavy lobbying as Visa restrictions on Ukrainians were to be lifted and some repair work has obviously been undertaken by PKP as officials inspection trains have reached Nižankovičì in 2017 so a reopening may be being considered.

(Sanok - Ustrzyki Dolne -) Krościenko PKP - Star'iava UZ (- Khyriv)

[D] This line has been closed to all traffic since 9 November 2010 but with Ukrainian Visa restrictions lifted, SKPL operated a special to Khyriv on 25 June 2017 so reopening may be being considered. PKP had operated 1435mm gauge local passenger services between Sanok (Zagórz before 2004/2005) and Khyriv but lately only freight trains ran between Sanok and Ustrzyki Dolne. A 1520mm gauge track is interlaced with the 1435mm gauge track between Stariava and Khyriv for the internal UZ passenger service of two trains per day. See also the Malhowice - Nizhankovichi crossing.

See also