Kiev: Encyclopedia II - Kiev - Transportation

Kiev - Transportation

Kiev - Local transportation

Since Soviet times, the publicly owned and operated Kiev Metro system remains the fastest, the most convenient and affordable network that covers most, but not all, of the city. The metro is permanently expanding towards the city limits to cover the growing demand.

While the other kinds of once public-only city transport have suffered the partial collapse. First of all, this regards the public bus service that operates the weared-out units and fails to maintain schedules. Public electric trolley bus and tram lines are more reliable but also technically obsolete and underfunded. The trams (once a main and densely-developed kind of transport) are now being gradually phased out.

One unusual mode of public transportation Kiev has is a funicular, that climbes on the steep Dnieper river bank.

All public road transport in Kiev is operated by the united Kyivpastrans municipal company. It is utterly unprofitable because large groups of passengers (pensioners ect.) are granted free service on its lines. So operational costs of the company are mostly subsidized by city community.

A simple distance-regardless tariffs system exists in Kiev’s public transport: the tickets are bought for each entrance into vehicle. Unlike many cities of the world, no discounts (for multi-rides tickets or definite time) available.

With such problems in the public sector, private investors have seen room for profit. The marshrutkas (private minibuses) have become the next most popular method of transportation after Metro. Marshrutkas provide a good coverage of the smaller residential streets and have routes that are convenient for the residents. Being around 3 times more expensive than public transport, they are also faster and more available, although with an increased frequency of accidents.

The Taxi market in Kiev is intensive but poorly regulated. It is quite common for a local with a car (or even people from other parts of Ukraine) to act as a taxi driver unofficially, although organized private companies have increased competition dramatically. The traffic jams and lack of parking space are the growing problems for taxi service in Kiev, and vice versa.

Kiev - Railways

Railways are Kiev’s main kind of outer transport connection. The city has a developed railroad infrastructure including 6 major train stations, depots, repairing facilities etc. However, this system still fails to meet the demand for passenger service. Particularly, the Kiev Passenger Railway Station is city's only long-distance vokzal (passenger terminal). There is construction underway for a new Darnytsia Vokzal on the right-bank part of Kiev, which may ease the tension of the central station. Bridges over the Dnieper River is another problem restricting the development of city’s railway system. Presently, only one of two rail bridges is available for an intense train traffic. So contsruction of the new combined rail-auto bridge is a part of Darnytsia project.

Kiev - Air

Passenger airlink to Kiev can be made through two of its arports: the Boryspil International Airport, which is served by the most major international airlines from all parts of the world, and a smaller Zhulyany Airport mostly serving local flights. There is also a cargo airport in Kiev’s north-western suburb of Gostomel.

Generally, Kiev is one of the centers of world aviation industry (see Economy of Kiev). But low demand for passenger lines limits the influence of such a legacy on the city’s own transportation.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Transportation", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki