​After a 24-year break, the two neighboring countries are resuming direct rail connections: the Chisinau-Kyiv train, which runs with seven carriages painted by artists from Ukraine. It is called the “Victory Train”, and it covers 700 km in 13 hours, the company “Moldavska zaliznytsia” says. A few years ago, the longest international train went from Chisinau to St. Petersburg (40 hours, 2200 km),

Even 31 years ago, when the two trains were part of the USSR, and therefore there was no border, a direct train ran for 9 and a half hours.

The train has seven carriages, of which five are compartment cars and two are of the Platzkart type (sleepers without partitions between compartments). The maximum number of seats is 280.

Travel time one way is approximately 13 hours. The cost of a travel ticket ranges from 870 to 1,260 lei (45-65 euros), depending on the comfort class.

The railway route Chisinau-Kyiv is operated by representatives of the Ukrainian railway “Ukrzaliznytsia” together with O.S. “Railway from Moldova”.

Chisinau still has direct international trains to Bucharest and Iași, and before the war also to Odesa. Those from Î.S. Calea Ferată din Moldova says that in the future the connection with Odesa and other cities of Ukraine may be restored, if the situation on the ground allows it. A few years ago, there was a direct train from Chisinau to Lviv (8 hours).

The Chisinau-Kyiv railway was stopped on October 2, 1998.

Previously, there was a direct train between Chisinau – St. Petersburg (40 hours, 2200 km), Chisinau – Minsk (25 hours) and Chisinau – Moscow (30 hours).

The train on the Chisinau-Kyiv route will run three times a week according to the following schedule:

From Chisinau to Kyiv: According to calendar days it seems.

17:45 Departure from Chisinau, arrival in Ungheni at 20:21. The train arrives in Kyiv at 11:48.

From Kyiv to Chisinau: on odd days.

17:02 Departure from Kyiv, arrival in Ungheni at 07:53. The train arrives in Chisinau at 10:38.