A heatwave has hit Ukraine. In many regions, temperatures rose above 35 degrees Celsius. The high temperatures are affecting the comfort and safety of train journeys – passengers are complaining about the heat in the carriages.
The Ukrainian railway company Ukrzaliznytsia (UZ) emphasizes that trains are running on schedule despite the heat and Russian attacks. It advises travelers to bring plenty of drinking water, a portable fan or hand fan, a power bank, a light hat, and a light snack. Passengers with chronic illnesses should consult their doctor before traveling.
The air conditioning in the trains works most effectively at speeds above 40 km/h. At outside temperatures above 30 degrees, it cools the interior only gradually. On certain routes – for example in the mountains towards Rakhiv, Solotvyno, Chop, and Uzhhorod, as well as on the international routes Kyiv–Bucharest and Kyiv–Chișinău – speed is limited, which restricts cooling. The air conditioning also cannot work fully during customs and border checks on international trains.
Many Ukrainians complain on social networks that the air conditioning does not work even in carriages that are supposed to be equipped with it, and that the windows cannot be opened. UZ explains that some windows are designed as emergency exits and cannot be opened, while others are blocked for technical reasons. If the air conditioning is not working during the journey, the railway asks passengers to report it via the app “Rate the Trip.”
As early as May, UZ warned of a difficult summer. Since the start of the war, Russian shelling has completely destroyed 46 passenger carriages, damaged 200 carriages and an entire Intercity+ train. Over 1,000 carriages must be decommissioned due to age and wear. The ratio of demand to supply averages 4:1, rising to 6:1 in summer. The railway remains the most important means of transport for domestic and international travel due to the closed airspace.
Source: www.bbc.com
