Approved increase in railway fares not enough to solve railways' problems, Vinsky says

The planned increases in fares for railway passenger transportation approved in late February 2009 are not enough to solve the problem of railway passenger transportation in Ukraine, Transport and Communication Minister Yosyp Vinsky has said.

"It [the increase of fares] does not cover the planned inflation for this year… But we understand the social situation in the country," he said at a briefing in Kyiv.

According to the minister, the earlier planned monthly increase of railway fares, which foresees a 27% increase in fares over the year, was rejected at a meeting with ministries and departments.

"Today the price of tickets does not cover 50% of the expenses for passenger transportation," Vinsky said.

As reported, the transport ministry under its order of February 23 approved an increase of fares for local passenger transportation in Ukraine in 2009 from March 9 and June 1.