Ukraine has completed the electrification of a 22-kilometre stretch of newly built 1,435-millimetre-gauge European-standard track between Uzhhorod and Chop in Zakarpattia. This was announced on 20 September by the Ministry of Recovery, Infrastructure and Transport. The work is intended to expand opportunities for direct rail links with EU countries, with the next phase focusing on the route to the border with Hungary.
Briefly about the main points
- The installation of the overhead contact line on the Uzhhorod–Chop European-gauge railway line has been completed.
- As part of the work, 591 poles were erected and nearly 48 km of cable was laid.
- The project costs 1.3 billion hryvnias, half of which was provided by the EU.
- There are plans to electrify the section leading to the Hungarian border by the end of 2026.
- A second border control hall is set to open in Chop at the end of September.
Overhead contact line for an existing track
A total of 591 catenary supports were installed along the section, and nearly 48 kilometres of catenary wire were fitted. Construction of the European-standard track itself was completed in 2025.
Minister Mykola Kalashnik stated that electrification paves the way for the further development of direct rail links between Ukraine and other countries European Union.
Half of the cost was funded by the European Union
The total cost of the project is 1.3 billion hryvnias. According to the Ministry of Development, 50% of this amount was provided by a non-repayable EU grant under the Connecting Europe Facility Transport programme.
The remainder of the funding comes from the state budget and the organisation’s own resources Ukrzaliznytsia. The 2026 state budget has allocated 285 million hryvnias for the implementation of the project.
Next up: the electric railway line to the Hungarian border
Work is continuing on the second phase — the electrification of the section from Chop to the state border with Hungary, in the direction of Zakhonya. It is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2026.
On the Ukrainian section, a direct current of 3 kV is used, whilst in Hungary, an alternating current of 25 kV is used. The plan is to use multi-system electric locomotives for international services, which should make it possible to avoid having to change locomotives when crossing the border.
This is expected to cut journey times and reduce operating costs. In the long term, trains from Hungary, Austria, Slovakia and the Czech Republic will be able to travel to Uzhhorod.
The Eurotrack is already handling international trains
The section between Chop and Uzhhorod opened in September 2025. From 12 September of that year, direct passenger trains began running from Uzhhorod to Bratislava, Budapest and Vienna.
At the same time, Ukrzaliznytsia has completed the refurbishment of the second hall for border and customs checks on passengers travelling on international trains at Chop station. It is scheduled to open at the end of September 2026; a separate exit onto the first platform is expected to increase the station’s capacity and streamline check-in procedures for passengers.
