Ukrainian Railways carried over 41 million passengers on suburban trains last year

Last year, Ukrainian Railways transported more than 41 million passengers by suburban trains, according to the Suburban Passenger Company branch of Ukrzaliznytsia. This happened against the backdrop of a 61% decrease in suburban passenger traffic compared to 2018, when 105.56 million passengers were transported.

Several factors contributed to these changes. In 2020, the decline in passenger traffic was likely caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and in 2022 by the war. Over the past five years, the percentage of beneficiaries has ranged from 27.5% to 34.8%, and in 2023 it amounted to 28.3%.

In 2016, the state reimbursed the costs of transportation of beneficiaries, but later this responsibility was transferred to local budgets. Thus, Ukrzaliznytsia bears the financial burden of providing privileged transportation.

Suburban transportation is of social importance, as most passengers are people who work or go to work. Oleksandr Boldov, director of the Suburban Passenger Company branch, emphasized that privileged passengers account for 47% of all passengers using Ukrzaliznytsia's suburban services.

Last year, local budgets reimbursed Ukrzaliznytsia for less than half of the costs of privileged transportation of passengers in suburban areas. However, the percentage of compensation is gradually increasing. Boldov emphasized that while many local governments are cooperating, not all of them are doing so. The leaders in terms of debts are large cities.