The Kyiv-Riga train launched by Ukrzaliznytsia, also passing through Minsk (Belarus) and Vilnius (Lithuania), from January 30, 2019 will make more trips – once in four days instead of once a week as it is done today, Ukrzaliznytsia Board Chairman Yevhen Kravtsov has written on his Facebook page.
“The occupancy rate from Kyiv to Riga is 49% and backwards – 40%. These are good figures, which are evidence of popularity of the train going to European capitals and its economic feasibility for the Ukrainian railways,” he said on Friday.
The weekly Kyiv-Minsk-Vilnius-Riga train was launched on September 28, 2018. At the end of Nov, Ukrzaliznytsia said that then the train was running at about zero cost effectiveness. However, given the “low season” and only the recent launch, Ukrzaliznytsia considered the launch of this train successful.
According to the company, after eight trips the train carried 2,100 passengers, of which 1,000 – to/from Lithuania and 950 – to/from Latvia.
In January, it is planned to hold talks with Estonian railways Eesti Raudtee on the extension of the train’s route to Tallinn.
