Ukraine and Bulgaria are exploring plans to introduce a new international passenger service linking Kyiv with Sofia via Romania, with a launch targeted as early as this summer. According to reports in the Romanian press, the proposal reflects a growing push to strengthen cross-border rail links in Eastern Europe, responding to clear passenger demand while supporting closer integration with the wider European transport network.
While full details remain to be confirmed, the service would likely build on existing infrastructure, passing through key Romanian corridors and potentially linking with established international routes. It also follows the recent reinstatement of a direct Kyiv–Bucureşti service, which currently takes around 24 hours and provides a vital connection between Ukraine and the EU.
For seasoned timetable readers, the idea is far from new. Through services once linked the region more directly, most notably the “Bulgaria Express”, which connected Moskva, Kyiv, Bucureşti and Sofia until 2014. Later, the “Bucovina” sleeping car maintained a Kyiv–Bucureşti link before being withdrawn.
If realised, the revived corridor would mark a significant step in restoring long-distance rail continuity across the region—reconnecting cities and offering a practical alternative to air travel on a historically important axis.
