Ukrzaliznytsia, with EU support, opens upgraded border crossing with Poland

Ukrzaliznytsia has completed a project relocating the railway border control point to the Mostyska II station near the Ukrainian-Polish border in Lviv Oblast. The project was implemented with equal co-financing from the Connecting Europe Facility and the European Investment Bank, as reported by Rubryka with reference to the company’s press service.

“We continue to accelerate Ukraine’s movement toward the EU by developing and improving our border infrastructure,” stated Oleksandr Pertsovskyi, Chairman of the Board of JSC Ukrzaliznytsia. “Relocating the border control point to Mostyska II station will double the capacity of this route. While previously only six freight trains could be inspected daily, now this number can reach 15. This means new opportunities to increase freight traffic and accelerate passenger trains.”

“Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukrzaliznytsia has become a lifeline for people, goods, and the army. Thanks to “Rail Diplomacy,” we, diplomats, can travel safely and work on the ground to help Ukraine win even more effectively,” said Katarina Mathernová, EU Ambassador to Ukraine. “The railway’s work is impressive, especially in wartime, and we are proud to support its development through the Connecting Europe Facility programme in partnership with the European Investment Bank. The modernization of the Mostyska II border crossing point is another step forward in improving railway connections, strengthening Ukraine’s ties with the EU, and increasing passenger and freight traffic.”

Before this project, border controls for trains travelling from Ukraine to Poland were carried out on the Mostyska – State Border section, taking an average of almost two hours per train.

During the checkpoint’s reconstruction, several improvements were made. These included building four towers for inspecting rolling stock by border control officers of Ukraine, installing two block modules (one- and two-storey) for border control officers, and constructing four enclosures for service dogs. Additionally, a video surveillance system (30 cameras) and Wi-Fi coverage were installed, and the contact network sectioning system was modernised.

Ukrzaliznytsia emphasises its continued development of railway infrastructure under the European Union’s Connecting Europe Facility programme. Work is currently underway to modernise intermodal terminals and update railway infrastructure on key routes connecting Ukraine with EU countries. Further projects aim to improve logistics and optimise border crossing points.