First train connection between Ukraine and Romania

 From a Twitter thread by Alexander Kamyshin (railway minister of Ukraine)

Launched the first train connecting Ukraine and Romania.

Just to remind. Back in August 2022, in the middle of the war, we completed 20km of new track reconstruction. That track was closed for 17 years. We done it in 2 months. And then we waited for another 4 months while Romanian railways completed its part of the job.

 From other tweets in the thread, it looks as if the red section has in fact been completed

We also brought brand new diesel train to the route. Made in Ukraine during the war, btw.

What a beautiful station building!

5 reasons why this connection is important: (1) yet another connection for cargo export. More business for both countries. Vital for , because cargo export is blood for our economy. Beneficial for , both railways and #Constanta seaport. Great extension for #SolidarityLanes.

(2) another connection for Ukrainians to the EU. You can change the train in Valea Viseului and travel to Cluj-Napoca where international airport gives you 30 destinations per day, incl. 2 flights to London. Or you can go to Bucharest.

(3) more than 30k Ukrainians live in Maramures county of Romania, which is neighboring Ukraine. We are happy to give them a comfortable connection to visit their friends and relatives in Ukraine.

(4) great opportunity for Romanians to #VisitUkraine. Ski resorts in the winter time or hiking #Carpathians in the summer time. And yes, I'm sure that many Romanians are fine to travel to Ukraine even amid the war.

(5) we have to finish a few more exercises with border control and the customs office, and we gonna give a direct transit route connecting Ukraine with Ukraine via Romania. That's important because of the Carpathian mountains, complicating other ways to connect inside Ukraine.

Actually, there is also 6th reason why this corridor is important, but that's something we never discuss. If you know what I mean. 😎

Crossing the border from to .

 

 

And back home. From to .

The line is "Russian" gauge (1520 mm/4 ft 11+27⁄32 in) which is wider than standard gauge (1,435 mm /4 ft 8+1⁄2 in). You have to change trains across the border. (It might interest you to know that, since Australia has several railway gauges, you also had to change trains at state borders in the past, though these days there are standard gauge railway connections between all the mainland capital cities.) There are plans to build a high-speed network in Ukraine, using standard gauge, connecting with the European high-speed network..

To build this so quickly, and while their country is under attack from Russia, is very impressive.

Also, how beautiful that part of Ukraine is.  I'd love to visit.