Ukraine expands alternative rail routes to the EU

Ukraine continues to expand alternative rail routes to the EU, gradually increasing the number of options available for freight transportation. As analyst Dmytro Kosternyi notes in an article for Kurier Kolejowy, alongside Poland, Ukraine is developing connections through Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Moldova, which could gradually reduce its dependence on Polish transit.

One of the key projects is the construction of a 1,435 mm European-gauge railway from the Polish-Ukrainian border via Mostyska II to Sknyliv near Lviv. The project includes around 80 km of infrastructure and is estimated to cost approximately €190 mln, with the first stage scheduled for completion by the end of 2027.

At the same time, Ukraine is expanding rail connections with Slovakia and Hungary. In September 2025, a 22-km European-gauge section between Chop and Uzhhorod was opened, providing a direct 1,435 mm connection to the European railway network.

Another alternative is the southern corridor through Moldova to Romania and the port of Constanța. Ukraine and Moldova have discussed increasing the use of this rail route, whose potential capacity has been estimated at around 4.5 mln tons of cargo per year.

According to the author, Poland remains an important logistics route for Ukraine due to its geographical position, developed infrastructure and the broad-gauge LHS railway. However, as alternative corridors and the 1,435 mm network develop, Poland’s position will increasingly depend on factors beyond its geographical advantages, while competition between routes to the EU is expected to grow.

Tags: logistics, alternative routes, rail transportation, Ukraine, EU, Poland