In Ukraine there are also trains which are more similar to our intercities than to a standard elektrichas. These trains are called Stolychnyi ekspres (столичний експрес) and they connect Kyiv with Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk.
They are composed by wagon of first and second class with only sitting places divided in compartment of 6 places (we tried only the first class).
Stolychnyi ekspres Kyiv – Kharkiv
Locomotiv Siemens. Train Kyiv – Kharkiv
Locomotiv stolychnyi ekspres
Train Kyiv – Kharkiv
Stolychnyi ekspres, waiting at the Kyiv’s station
Wagon of the train Kyiv – Kharkiv
Stolychnyi ekspres Kyiv – Dnipropetrovsk
Train Kiev – Dnipropetrovsk
Stolichniy-express to Dnipropetrovsk
Inside wagons
First class wagons are quite clean and offer a good comfort.
Corridor train Kyiv – Dnipropetrovsk
Corridor first class wagon, stolychnyi ekspres
The are equipped with very nice reclining seats and in the middle of the compartment there is also a small table.
Compartment of the train Kyiv – Dnipropetrovsk
As in the “renewed” wagons, there is a control panel (lights, radio, wc status and AC plug).
The control panel inside the compartment
In each compartment there are 2 monitors where is possible to watch movies in Russian language.
One of the monitors, train Kyiv – Dnipropetrovsk
Toilets of the train
There are 2 WC for each wagon and, at least in the first class, they look even better that the ones available on the renewed sleeping cars. They look very clean and have also a dispenser of hygienic paper covering for WC.
Toilet of the train Kyiv – Dnipropetrovsk
WC of the train Kyiv – Dnipropetrovsk
Price of the tickets
First class tickets are quite expensive if compared with the elekrickas’ ones. Anyway it is possible to feel the difference.
The first class during our trip was almost empty.
One way ticket for the route Kyiv – Kharkiv
1 class: 176.17 UAH
2 class: 104.43 UAH
Videos of Ukrainian trains
Train “Zakarpattia” departing from Kiev:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6k7Z4mN5Clg
Freight train in Donetsk:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhPAFR4myPk
Other kind of Ukrainian trains
Elektrichka (Электричка) or Elektropoezd
http://en.ukrlandia.com.ua/elektricka
Overnight trains
http://www.ukrlandia.com.ua/treni-ucraini
Train timetable
http://www.uz.gov.ua (site in Russian and Ukrainian)
Tags: Dnipropetrovsk, Guides, Kharkiv, Kiev, stolychnyi ekspres
