Railway Workers’ Day in Ukraine: when is it celebrated?

When is Railway Workers’ Day in 2026

In 2026, Railway Workers’ Day falls on 4 November (Wednesday).

The date is fixed and established by Presidential Decree No. 257/93 ‘On Railway Workers’ Day’, according to which this professional holiday is celebrated ‘annually on 4 November’.

Why not 2 August

Presidential Decree No. 257/93 of 15 July 1993 originally provided for the holiday to be celebrated on the first Sunday in August. However, Decree No. 1140/2002 of 11 December 2002 replaced the wording ‘on the first Sunday in August’ with ‘4 November’. Since then, this provision 

Calendars and websites stating that the holiday has been ‘moved to 2 August’ contain outdated information: 2 August 2026 is merely the first Sunday in August (the Soviet and early Ukrainian equivalent of the tradition). The only valid date is 4 November.

Where the date came from: the first train to Lviv

The official text of the Decree does not explain the choice of date. According to historical sources, it was on 4 November 1861 that the first passenger train, named ‘Yaroslav’, arrived in Lviv from Przemyśl. This event is considered the beginning of the history of the railway in what is now Ukraine. The railway station in Lviv was built shortly before that — in October 1861.

Is Railway Workers’ Day a public holiday?

No, it is a working day. Railway Workers’ Day is a professional holiday and is not included in the list of public holidays and non-working days set out in Article 73 of the Labour Code of Ukraine (LCU). Furthermore, whilst martial law is in force, public holidays and non-working days do not apply in accordance with Law of Ukraine No. 2136-IX.

Railways in Ukraine: peacetime and wartime

In peacetime, rail transport is a key sector of Ukraine’s economy. According to ‘Ukrzaliznytsia’, it accounts for over half of the country’s total freight turnover and a significant share of passenger transport, and ranks among the leading operators in Eurasia in terms of freight volume.

During a full-scale war, the railways have become critical to the state’s survival. Over 175,000 people work on the railways, and more than 15,000 Ukrzaliznytsia employees have joined the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Trains are used to evacuate people from frontline regions, as well as to transport humanitarian aid, fuel and grain.

Railway Workers’ Day in other countries

In other countries, this holiday is celebrated on specific dates linked to the national history of the railways:

• Poland — 25 November (since 1981, the feast day of St Catherine of Alexandria, patron saint of railway workers);

• Lithuania — 28 August;

• Latvia — 5 August;

• Estonia — 21 August (commemorating the launch of the first train from Tallinn to Tartu in 1876).

The Ukrainian date — 4 November — is unique and linked exclusively to Ukrainian history.

Railway Workers’ Day greetings

Happy Railway Workers’ Day! Thank you for your hard work and for ensuring the country continues to move forward, despite all the challenges!

Colleague, congratulations on your professional holiday! I wish you a stable timetable, safe journeys and that every shift ends on time.

My congratulations to the train drivers, conductors, track maintenance workers and everyone who is restoring the infrastructure following the shelling. You are the true backbone on which the country rests!

Dad, happy professional holiday! I’m proud of your vital work and your ability to drive the train to where it’s eagerly awaited!

Railway jobs on Injobe

Find railway job vacancies on Injobe under the section ‘Transport, Logistics’. All vacancies are listed in the job catalogue.