Travel
Metro
The Metro system in Kiev is very efficient and the quickest mode of travel in the city especially during “Rush Hour” traffic. The Metro locations have a florescent green M sign located above each station for easy identification. You will buy your tokens at the entrance just on the inside to each station. The fee is extremely cheap. The price for one entrance into the Metro system is only 50 kopek (1/2 Hryvnia), which equates to $.10 in US dollars.
The trains arrive at each station around every 3 ? minutes during peak travel times and every 5 minutes outside of peak times with early in the morning and late into the night every 15 minutes. Security personal are located through out the system to keep the peace. To be honest the Metro system is very safe and many of the Metro stations have Televisions playing music videos to keep the travelers entertained while waiting for a train.
The Metro system is also located in the following cites: Kharkov, and Dnepropetrovsk.
Taxis
The most popular method in finding a taxi is to just stick out your hand while standing on the side of the street. You will find many cars without the taxi sign on the roof will stop. This is the unofficial taxi service. Most locals with a car will stop. The price is significantly less then using the official taxi services. A word of advice, agree on a price before hand to ensure both parties are satisfied.
Ukraine Rail System
Train classification in Ukraine differs from then in Europe. Carriages and cabins do have the usual amenities found in European or American carriages and cabins.
Express Train
These are the best and speediest trains. They travel at different times of the day. These trains travel between the large regional cities of the country. These trains make few stopovers en-route. They have good quality and service. Express trains usually have 1st, 2nd, and 3rd class carriages.
Passenger Trains
These are very slow trains making numerous stopovers. Traveling might take up to 16 hours for long distance routes. The quality of train depends on a route may vary from good to barely acceptable.
Train Carriages
Carriage classification in Ukraine differs from European standards. These are 5 types of carriages on the trains in Ukraine: SW (sleeping wagon) Coupe, Platzcart, and Common Wagon (with numbered reserved seats, Sit Up (on suburban trains).
1st Class Sleeper (SW)
This is the best type of carriage. Every carriage
has 9 cabins, 2 berths in each cabin. Beneath
the lower berth’s is a box for luggage, which
can accommodate 1-2 medium sized pieces of
luggage. Additional storage is above the door
in a small niche. There is a small table by the
window. Every cabin has a door lock and can be
locked from the inside. There are two types of
1st class cabins:
• with horizontal berths (two berths on the same level, see photo)
• with vertical berths (one berth is above the other, those cabins usually have a
wash-stand under the unfolding table lid)
Each carriage has WCs with wash-stands, 2 per each carriage. 1st class cabins are air-conditioned in summer time.
2nd Class Sleeper (Coupe)
2nd class carriage are usually an acceptable according to Western standards. The quality depends upon the train. In many cases, the 2nd class carriage is a duplicate of the first class carriage except the two overhead berths occupied. Each carriage has 9 cabins, each cabin has 4 berths – 2 lower and 2 upper ones. Luggage storage is located under the lower berth with additional storage space above the door. Each cabin has a small table by the window. Every cabin has a door lock and can be locked from the inside. 2nd Class cabins in the Express trains are usually air-conditioned during the summer. Each carriage has 2 WCs with washing stands.
3rd Class Sleeper (Platzcart)
Not the best choice. Each carriage has 54 berths, among which 36 berths are of the normal type and 18 are located in the passageway. Berths are in two levels. Cabins have no doors. There are boxes for luggage below lower level berths in cabins and small luggage niches. Under the upper level berths are small berths for storing the luggage. Each carriage has WCs with washing-stands, 2 per each carriage. This type of cabin is the preferred mode of travel among Ukrainians, because of the low ticket price.
4th Class (Common Wagon)
Totally an unacceptable option, this method of travel is not recommended unless it is the only option for travel.
