Ukraine’s rail operator Ukrainian Railways has started building a European-gauge railway in the west of the country intended to link up with European railways, the operator announced on X, formally Twitter.

The line will run 22km from the western city of Uzhhorod to the town of Chop, where the borders of Ukraine, Slovakia, and Hungary meet, The Kyiv Independent reports.

The dual-gauge line would also allow for goods and passengers to move more easily between Ukraine’s broad gauge track and the EU’s standard gauge.

At present, it can take five hours to unload and load trains when freight is being moved between the systems.

Passengers currently travelling between Ukraine and Europe either have to change trains or wait for replacement train wheels to be installed.

Funded by the European Commission, a railway between Europe and Ukraine will also allow for transportation of humanitarian aid as well as improving economic development and logistics.

In 2023, the US announced $225m to link the Ukrainian city of Lviv, to the EU’s Trans-European Network.