BRUSSELS, 3 March 2022: the past week has shown European solidarity in action: passenger rail operators of all types are offering free transport to Ukrainians fleeing the terrible events in Ukraine.
Furthermore: one of the members of our association, the privately owned passenger rail operator RegioJet, has partnered with Ukrainian Railways, Člověk v tísni, ČD Cargo & Rail Cargo Group to provide a daily humanitarian night train land bridge between Prague and Kiev. The first service took place during the night of 1st March.
EU passenger rail operators of all types have acted fast to offer free transport across Europe to Ukrainian citizens fleeing the Russian aggressors: Leo Express, DSB, WESTbahn, SNCF, MTRX, PKP Intercity, Go-Ahead, ÖBB, Transdev Deutschland, NS, RegioJet, DB, FlixTrain, ČD and more. The list is extensive.
Meanwhile, online travel comparison & booking website Omio has set up a special page with transport options in Ukraine as well as free onwards travel from the border.
“While Russia’s aggression continues, these actions must have top priority in the European rail sector. All of the companies and personnel involved are doing amazing work.”
ALLRAIL Secretary General Nick Brooks
Over the last few days, Ukrainian Railways (Ukrzaliznytsia ‘UZ’) and the capital Kiev made a special appeal – the city will soon be without food. Consequently, our member operator RegioJet set up a special humanitarian night train land bridge2 from Prague to Kiev in a fast & uncomplicated manner, partnering with the humanitarian non-profit Člověk v tísni as well as the rail freight operators ČD Cargo and Rail Cargo Group.
This special train carries up to 600 pallets of food to Kiev and always offers 400 beds for women & child evacuees from Ukraine in RegioJet’s night train rolling stock. At the border, it exchanges the humanitarian goods and passengers with a UZ train.
Organised at short notice, the first night train started yesterday. There are 10 sleeping coaches plus up to 10 rail freight vehicles. It is a daily service and free-of-charge for its users – arguably the biggest single humanitarian aid supply from the EU. If you want to help financially, then you can do so on Člověk v tísni’s website by clicking here.