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Train and Carriage Classification in Ukraine
Train classification in Ukraine differs from European one. Train carriages and cabins do or do not have some usual for European or American traveler amenities. To serve you better, we have made a Ukrainian Train Guide with some simple and detailed classification.
Express Trains. These are the best trains in Ukraine, usually going overnight between big regional centers of the country. Those trains make quite a few stopovers en-rout, have carriages of good quality and OK service. Express trains usually have 1st, 2nd and 3rd class carriages. Some of those trains include 1st class carriages for peak seasons, and exclude them for the rest of the year. Express train numbers vary from 001 to 149.
Passenger Trains. Quite slow trains, making numerous stopovers. Traveling might take up to 30 hours for long-distance routs. The quality of a train depends on a rout and may vary from good to barely acceptable. As a rule, these trains have 2nd, 3rd and 4th class carriages. Passenger train numbers vary from 171 to 699.
Suburban trains. There are two sorts of these trains: electric and diesel. The trains go within a region limits or between two regions close to each other. Quality of the trains is very low and the trains are extremely slow, usually overcrowded, especially in summer, have no sleeping berths. Short distance travel might take up to 6 hours, while going by car would cut the time twice.
Carriage classification
1st class, (SW), sleeper. This is the best type of carriages in Ukraine. Every carriage has 9 or 10 cabins, 2 berths in each cabin. Beneath the lower berth(s) there is a box for luggage, which can accommodate 1-2 medium bags. Bigger storage for luggage is in the niche above the door. There is a small unfolding table by the window. Every cabin has a door lock and can be locked from inside.
There are two models of 1st class cabins:
~ with horizontal berths (two berths on the same level);
~ with vertical berths (one berth is above another, those cabins usually have a wash-stand under unfolding table lid).
Each carriage has WCs with wash-stands, 2 per each carriage. 1st class cabins are air-conditioned at the summer time. Air-conditioning is functioning while the train engine is working. Therefore it might be rather hot in the first hour or so of the trip and when the train is making stopovers. One or two stewards serve every carriage.
2nd class, (coupe), sleeper. 2nd class is usually quite acceptable type of carriages. The quality depends on a train. Each carriage has 9 or 10 cabins, each cabin has 4 berths - 2 lower and 2 upper ones. There are boxes for luggage below lower berths. Bigger storage for luggage is in the niche above the door. There is a small unfolding table by the window. Every cabin has a door lock and can be locked from inside.
2nd class cabins in Express trains are usually air-conditioned but not always. Each carriage has WCs with washing-stands, 2 per each carriage. One or two stewards serve every carriage.
3rd class, (platzcart), sleeper. Not the best choice. Each carriage has 54 berths, among which 36 berths of normal type (in cabins) and 1 8 side located (along the passageway). Berths are in two levels. Cabins have no doors and cannot be closed.
There are boxes for luggage below lower level berths in cabins, and small luggage niches below side located ones. Under the upper level berths there are small berths for storing the luggage. Each carriage has WCs with washing-stands, 2 per each carriage. One or two stewards serve every carriage.
In spite of very low quality of 3rd class carriages they are popular in Ukraine, the reason is their very low tickets price.
4th class, (common wagon). Actually, this is a 3rd class carriage, for which tickets are sold without assigning exact berth numbers (or just with symbolic number of a seat ). The unlimited quantity of tickets can be sold for this type of a carriage since it is supposed that it can accommodate 150 persons at a time.
