Belarus rolls back to older trains on key routes amid uncertainty

Belarusian Railway is temporarily replacing modern trains with older carriages on key routes. The change affects services between Minsk and Vitebsk, as well as Minsk and Mogilev. Passengers who booked tickets for the newer trains will receive partial refunds due to the switch.

The transition begins on February 3, with the Mogilev route fully switching to older stock until February 5. Business-class services on this line will use locomotive-hauled carriages instead of the usual Polish-made DMUs.

On the Vitebsk route, the replacement will happen in stages. Some trains will change as early as February 3 and 4, with all affected services using older stock by February 5. The timetable may also shift slightly during this period.

The Polish DMUs had operated on both routes for around two to three years. They were withdrawn in 2023 after geopolitical tensions rose following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Passengers who pre-booked tickets for the modern trains will automatically receive the difference in fare. The temporary change means travellers will experience older carriages and possible schedule adjustments. Belarusian Railway has not announced how long the replacement will last.