The Ministry of Community and Territorial Development has approved updated conditions for the refund of train tickets for domestic routes within Ukraine. Starting from May 2, Ukrzaliznytsia will implement a progressive refund scale depending on the time when the passenger cancels the trip. The main principle is: the closer to the departure date the refund occurs, the less money the passenger receives.
This is reported by Finway
Features of the new tariffs for domestic routes
Previously, refunds were made according to fixed calendar deadlines. The new regulations take into account the duration of ticket sales (the so-called sales horizon). For popular routes with ticket sales opening 20 days in advance, the following tariffs are established:
- 15–20 days before departure, the passenger receives 100% of the ticket price;
- 10–14 days – 90–95%;
- 5–9 days – 75%;
- 1–4 days – 50%;
- less than 24 hours (but no later than 1 hour after departure) – only the ticket price is refunded, while the cost of the seat reservation is retained.
For routes with a short sales horizon, such as trains to frontline cities where tickets are sold 10 days before departure, the following conditions apply:
- 10 days before the trip – 95% of the ticket price;
- 5–9 days – 75%;
- 1–4 days – 50%;
- less than 24 hours (but no later than 1 hour after departure) – only the ticket price is refunded, while the cost of the seat reservation is retained.
“An exception has been made only for one category, namely – servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Defenders who purchase tickets through the Army+ app will be able to refund 100% of their value online at any moment before the train departs.”
Purpose of the changes: combating speculation and increasing accessibility
The company emphasizes that the new rules have several important objectives. Firstly, it encourages passengers to return tickets more quickly if their plans change, allowing free seats to be promptly returned to sale. Secondly, this system minimizes opportunities for resellers, as it is financially disadvantageous to mass-return tickets just before departure, as scammers previously did.
Recently, Ukrzaliznytsia also launched a new train route “Sakura” between Uzhhorod and Kyiv, where prices for compartment seats start from 466 hryvnias.