What is Intercity?
Intercity (IC) is a passenger train that runs during the day and provides fast connections between regions. Its average speed is 80 km/h and its top speed is 160 km/h. The train has 1st and 2nd class carriages, and 3rd class carriages can also be added.
Intercity services use either electric multiple units or passenger carriages hauled by a locomotive. Intercity trains have to meet certain requirements, such as a route speed of 80 km/h or more, 1st and 2nd class carriages, their own emblem and a uniform livery.
The carriages also carry pictograms showing the services on board: seating, carriages for passengers with children, no smoking, bar car, air conditioning, bicycle spaces, compartments for passengers with disabilities and carriages with Wi-Fi.
What is the difference between Intercity and Intercity+?
Intercity and Intercity+ differ in several ways:
Speed:
- Intercity: an average route speed of 80 to 160 km/h.
- Intercity+: a route speed of 90 km/h or more, with a permitted speed of up to 200 km/h.
Comfort and services:
- Intercity: a standard level of comfort and service.
- Intercity+: a higher level of comfort and the option of extra services during the journey.
Routes and passenger services:
- Intercity: a wide choice of routes serving many regions.
- Intercity+: may offer a more limited but more premium choice of routes, plus extra amenities for passengers.
What is the difference between 1st and 2nd class?
1st class differs from 2nd class in several respects:
- More comfortable seats: 1st class carriages have more comfortable seats than 2nd class. They have more adjustment options and recline further than 2nd class seats.
- More legroom: a 1st class carriage has 3–5 fewer rows than a 2nd class one. This adds at least 15 centimetres of space to the seat in front.
- More space between seats: each row in 1st class has one seat fewer, so the side-to-side space between seats is on average 10 centimetres greater.
- More sockets: 1st class has 220 V sockets in every row. 2nd class carriages have half as many.
- Free access to the premium waiting lounge: passengers holding 1st class Intercity+ tickets can use the station service centre or premium waiting lounge on the day of departure at no extra charge.
Which Intercity carriage has the café?
The café carriage on Intercity trains can be in different places depending on the train formation and the carriage manufacturer. The café is usually in one of the carriages known as the “bar car”, where you can buy drinks, light snacks and other food.
Carriage layout of the EKr-1 (“Tarpan”) high-speed dual-system electric train
Carriage layout of the Hyundai train
Carriage layout of the Skoda train
If you are planning an Intercity journey, you can contact the railway company or operator in advance for exact information on where the café carriage is on a particular train. Information about the location of service carriages (such as the bar car) is also usually given to passengers on board or in announcements.
How do I buy an Intercity ticket?
Today anyone can easily book an e-ticket for an Intercity+ train, even from the most remote corner of Ukraine. Simply pay, then print the form with your journey details. You can exchange it for a travel document at the ticket office quickly and free of charge.
How to book an e-ticket
- Go to our website AnyTrain;
- Choose the date and route of your journey;
- Select the train, carriage and seat;
- Confirm the booking and pay.
Book your ticket online and enjoy the speed and ease of travelling by Intercity.
How many Intercity trains are there in Ukraine?
There are currently around 15 Intercity trains, using rolling stock from manufacturers such as Hyundai Rotem, Skoda and Ukraine's own Tarpan. They have a two-class layout with 1st and 2nd class.
Carriages by class
Three carriages – 2, 5 and 8 – are set aside for 1st class, ensuring a comfortable, premium journey.
Carriages 1, 3, 4, 6, 8 and 9 are 2nd class, for passengers who prefer an economical and convenient way to travel.
Thanks to the variety and high standard of its carriages, Intercity offers a quality, pleasant journey. Choose your class and enjoy travelling in comfort.
Intercity trains run on the following routes: Kyiv – Ternopil, Kyiv – Kamianets-Podilskyi, Kyiv – Mohyliv-Podilskyi, Kyiv – Khmelnytskyi, Kyiv – Shostka, Kyiv – Sumy, Kyiv – Poltava, Kyiv – Kremenchuk, Kharkiv – Sumy, Kharkiv – Dnipro, Kharkiv – Svatove, Vinnytsia – Odesa, Kharkiv – Imeni Tarasa Shevchenka.
Intercity+ trains run on the following routes: Kyiv – Kostiantynivka, Kyiv – Kharkiv, Kyiv – Dnipro – Zaporizhzhia, Kyiv – Dnipro – Pokrovsk, Kyiv – Lviv, Kyiv – Lviv – Przemyśl, Kyiv – Odesa, Kyiv – Kryvyi Rih.
