Wartime Rail Route Connects Kyiv, Chisinau, and Bucharest

In a significant move reflecting the shifting geopolitics of Eastern Europe, a passenger train service connecting the capitals of Romania and Ukraine is being relaunched via a new route through Moldova. After a successful test run in early August, tickets are now on sale for the renewed Bucharest-Kyiv line, with regular service anticipated to begin in September, re-establishing a vital link disrupted for over five years.

The new route marks a strategic pivot for regional transport. The journey will now pass through Chisinau, where four Ukrainian passenger carriages will be attached to the existing ‘Friendship’ train that runs between Bucharest and the Moldovan capital. The entire trip is expected to take over 30 hours, a notable increase from the previous 25-hour journey that ran through northern Romania and Ukraine’s Chernivtsi region before the route was suspended following the start of the full-scale conflict.

Officials from all three countries have framed the project as a crucial step in strengthening regional connectivity. Moldova’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development stated the initiative underscores the country’s strategic role as a “transport bridge between the EU and Ukraine.” This sentiment was echoed by Romanian and Ukrainian officials, who emphasized the importance of the rail link for both passengers and cross-border cooperation amid the current security landscape.

The relaunch is the latest in a series of efforts to deepen transport ties. It follows the recent restoration of the Kyiv-Chisinau passenger train after a 20-year hiatus. For the state-owned Moldovan Railways, the increased passenger and potential freight traffic offers a lifeline, with hopes that the renewed activity will help the company settle outstanding salary debts with its employees.

This rail corridor is complemented by strengthening road transport links. Moldova and Ukraine recently extended an agreement to liberalize bilateral and transit freight transport until the end of 2027. This pact, which removes the need for permits, has already seen trade volume between the two nations double, facilitating the flow of goods, particularly Ukrainian grain, through Moldova towards EU markets via ports on the Danube and the Black Sea.

Taken together, these developments represent more than just logistical adjustments. They signify a concerted effort by Moldova, Ukraine, and EU member Romania to build new, resilient economic and transport corridors, deepening their integration and charting a clear path away from historical dependence on old routes and towards a shared future anchored in European cooperation.