Ukraine inaugurated its first railway line built to European Union standards, marking a significant step toward deeper integration with the EU’s transportation network, the European Investment Bank (EIB) announced on Sunday.
The 22-kilometer railway line, funded by an EIB loan and an EU grant under the Connecting Europe Facility, connects the western Ukrainian city of Uzhhorod, located near the borders with Slovakia and Hungary, to the European railway system.
The project is considered one of the first concrete results of the €50 billion “Ukraine Facility”, an EU-backed support mechanism aimed at stabilizing and rebuilding Ukraine amid the ongoing Russian invasion.
"This railway line is a clear example of how EU guarantees and grants are translating into real infrastructure on the ground," the EIB stated.
By aligning with the European rail gauge standard, the new line eliminates the need to switch trains at the border, reducing travel times between Ukraine and major EU cities such as Košice (Slovakia), Budapest (Hungary), and Vienna (Austria).
This alignment not only improves passenger convenience, but also increases the competitiveness of rail transport across the region.
“The new railway enhances logistical efficiency, helping to boost the volume of freight transported between Ukraine and EU countries,” the EIB added.
The project forms part of the broader EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes Initiative, which aims to establish and upgrade alternative transport corridors as the Russian invasion continues to disrupt traditional trade routes and supply chains.
The EU sees infrastructure investment as critical to both Ukraine’s short-term resilience and its long-term recovery, as well as to the eventual goal of EU membership.
“This is not just a railway line, it’s a symbol of Ukraine’s European future,” one EU official commented.
Follow the latest news on Google News
