Ukrzaliznytsia completes electrification of first European-gauge line between Uzhhorod and Chop
Ukrzaliznytsia has finished electrifying the 22 km European-gauge section between Uzhhorod and Chop, the first newly built European-gauge line in Ukraine to be electrified. Work on the second phase, from Chop to the Hungarian border at Záhony, is underway and expected to be completed by the end of the year. Half of the project's 1.3 billion hryvnia cost is covered by an EU grant under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF Transport).
Key points
- 22 km European-gauge section between Uzhhorod and Chop electrified
- First electrification of a newly built European-gauge line in Ukraine
- Second phase from Chop to the Hungarian border at Záhony planned for completion by end of 2026
- Total project cost: 1.3 billion hryvnias, with 50% covered by an EU CEF Transport grant
- Once complete, multi-system electric locomotives will cross into Hungary without a locomotive change
- Direct electric passenger services from Uzhhorod to Hungary, Austria, Slovakia and the Czech Republic will become possible
- Project supported by Ukraine's Ministry of Restoration, Infrastructure and Transport
Why it matters
The completed section is the first electrification of a newly built European-gauge railway in Ukraine, a tangible step in physically integrating the country's rail network with neighboring EU member states. Once the second phase is finished, passengers will be able to travel by direct electric train from Uzhhorod to Hungary, Austria, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, and freight will move across the border without a locomotive change. Half of the project's funding comes from an EU grant, anchoring the project in the European integration of Ukrainian transport infrastructure.
What happened
Ukrzaliznytsia announced via Facebook, as reported by Ukrinform, the completion of electrification works on the 22 km European-gauge railway section between Uzhhorod and Chop. The project is financed with a total budget of 1.3 billion hryvnias, half of which is an EU grant under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF Transport), with the remainder covered by the state budget and Ukrzaliznytsia's own funds. The Ministry of Restoration, Infrastructure and Transport of Ukraine is supporting the project. Railway workers have already moved on to the second phase: the section from Chop to the Ukrainian-Hungarian border at Záhony, scheduled for completion by the end of the year. Because Ukraine and Hungary use different railway voltages, multi-system electric locomotives will be needed to cross the border without a locomotive change. Ukrzaliznytsia also recently launched a modernized electric train on the Lviv–Uzhhorod route.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Both Ukrainian-language sources frame the completed electrification as a milestone for Ukrzaliznytsia and highlight the project's European integration dimension: EU financing through the CEF Transport programme, support from the Ministry of Restoration, Infrastructure and Transport, and the prospect of direct electric passenger services linking Uzhhorod with Hungary, Austria, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
Where reporting differs
The two Ukrainian sources disagree on the year for which 285 million hryvnias of state-budget funding was allocated to the project: one article refers to it as "this year" while the other specifies 2026.
Background
Work on the second phase of the project, the section from Chop to the Ukrainian-Hungarian border at Záhony, is ongoing and is planned to be completed by the end of the year. Ukraine and Hungary use different voltages on their railway networks, so multi-system electric locomotives are required for cross-border electric services. Ukrzaliznytsia recently launched a modernized electric train on the Lviv–Uzhhorod route.