Streamlined Service to Lviv
Travellers curious about heading east to Ukraine should have a smoother run this spring owing to investment for the forthcoming Euro 2012 Cup.
Getting to Lviv - the capital of Western Ukraine - has been a tedious undertaking until now, involving epic border delays and uncertain connections. Many travellers have found it simpler to walk across the border than risk delays in cars or buses. However, the application of new technology on the railway line should make train the surest bet over the following months.
Up until now, a major problem has been that the widths of Polish and Ukrainian train tracks have differed, meaning that passengers had to change cars at the border. However, a new system is being implemented that allows the wagons to adapt to new rail widths seamlessly.
As of May this year travellers should be able get from Krakow to Lviv in 7 hours, rather than 10 or more.
Lviv itself, formerly the Polish city of Lwow and sometime capital of Habsburg Galicia, is certainly a destination that's worth exploring, especially in May, the inaugural month of the new system.