The Cabinet of Ministers has approved new operating procedures for the railways and stations depending on the level of air threat. At the yellow level, trains will continue to run according to schedule, and passengers will board and alight as usual. At a red alert level, passenger boarding and train departures will be suspended, and people will be directed to shelters. Prime Minister Serhiy Koretskyi announced the decision on 17 September.
- The railway will operate under two threat levels.
- Trains will run whilst the alert level is at ‘yellow’.
- Boarding and disembarking will also continue.
- If the alert level is red, landings and departures will be suspended.
- Passengers will be directed to shelters.
What’s changing for Ukrzaliznytsia passengers
The new rules link the operations of railway stations and the rail network to the system introduced by the government air hazard levels.
Yellow level It is activated in the event of a drone threat. In this mode, trains continue to run according to the timetable, and passengers are permitted to board and alight at stations. People will be able to remain at stations whilst receiving information about the danger and the nearest shelters.
Red level indicates an increased risk of a missile or combined attack. In such cases, the boarding of passengers and the departure of trains from stations are suspended, and people must proceed to shelters.
Will the train be stopped right in the middle of the route?
No, the government has not introduced an automatic rule stating that «a red alert means all trains must stop immediately».
The Prime Minister clarified that Ukrzaliznytsia will be able to quickly restrict traffic depending on the specific situation on the ground, as well as to spread out trains and passengers in order to avoid overcrowding. In other words, decisions regarding traffic on the hazardous section will be made taking into account the current operational situation.
This is particularly important for trains that are already en route: the introduction of the red alert level does not in itself mean that all rail traffic across Ukraine will automatically be halted.
Shelters at railway stations are to be extended
The Government has separately instructed Ukrzaliznytsia, in conjunction with the regional military administrations and local communities, to to improve the availability of shelters at railway stations and stops. The plan is to receive information on changes to the threat level automatically, so that decisions regarding passenger evacuation or traffic restrictions can be taken as quickly as possible. The Ministry of Development and the State Emergency Service have been tasked with this.
The Ministry of the Interior and the National Police are to further step up security at railway stations and assist with the evacuation of people.
Public transport will be coordinated with train services
Another change concerns public transport.
The regions were advised to to adjust the timetables for buses, trolleybuses and other forms of public transport to take account of train services, particularly at night. This should enable passengers to get to or from the station once the train has arrived. The authorities should also speed up the installation of mobile shelters near transport hubs.
Previously, the Cabinet of Ministers recommended making a specific exception to the curfew rules for passenger transport to and from railway stations, so that night trains could operate without disrupting passenger transport.
Why were two alert levels introduced?
In early September, the government revised its general approach to how towns and businesses should operate during Russian air strikes.
The logic behind the new system is that not to bring the economy and transport to a standstill every time there is a drone threat, but to swiftly impose stricter restrictions when there is a risk of a missile attack or combined attack.
At the yellow alert level, the authorities allow work to continue provided that safety rules are observed and access to shelters is guaranteed. At the red alert level, the priority is to ensure people take shelter immediately.
For the railway, this means that A routine drone alert should no longer automatically halt the arrival and movement of trains, whilst in the event of a more serious threat, the operation of railway stations will be restricted.
