Solutions from Ukraine: Ukrainian Railways introduces first-ever children's compartment in company history
Photo: Ukrainian Railways
Tickets are now available for the first-ever children's compartment car on Ukrzaliznytsia [Ukrainian Railways – ed.], which will be included in the August 8 run of train #15/16 from Kharkiv to Yasynia. The car is designed to provide a comfortable, safe, and engaging journey for our youngest passengers, ages 0 to 8, and their parents.
The press service of Ukrzaliznytsia reports this.
What is the problem?
For the third consecutive year of full-scale war, families with children are being forced to travel across the country at a much higher frequency.
"People, especially children, are the country's most valuable asset. The launch of these child-friendly carriages should be part of a wider joint effort by various partners to create a fully child-friendly environment. These investments are significant for children's future and, therefore, the country's future. It is a sign of hope and optimism in these difficult times. The support of the Belgian government underlines how important it is to ensure that every child in Ukraine can develop and fully realize their potential," Chargé d'affaires of the Belgian Embassy Frederic Develter said.
What is the solution?
The children's car was designed at the initiative of Ukrzaliznytsia in collaboration with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and with the financial support of the Government of Belgium.
Thanks to this innovative initiative, young travelers in Ukraine can use their travel time to learn through play and receive essential psychosocial support from staff when and if needed.
"In addition, the children's carriages are equipped with a variety of entertainment and educational materials so that our children can develop under any conditions," Munir Mammadzade, the Head of the UNICEF Office in Ukraine, said.
Yevhen Liashchenko, Chairman of the Board of Ukrzaliznytsia, mentioned that this one-of-a-kind train car was upgraded right here in Ukraine, at the Kyiv Electric Car Repair Plant. He also shared that the goal is to have seven more cars ready for use by the end of the year.
How does it work?
Work on modernizing this train lasted about half a year, and on August 8, it will take its first flight on a symbolic route connecting the east and west of Ukraine and regularly transports groups of children from the Kharkiv region to rest in the mountains.
During modernization, the car received several modern solutions that will make the journey of parents with children more comfortable, from playpens to changing tables in the restroom.
Tickets for this carriage are available exclusively through the Ukrzaliznytsia mobile application; the ticket price is similar to the cost of compartment tickets of the same class on the same train. The carriage is marked "Children" in the app so that parents traveling with small children can choose to travel in this particular carriage.
It should be noted that children under five years of age travel free of charge on Ukrzaliznytsia trains and do not need a separate ticket.
