You're reading: UEFA: High-speed trains to slash journey times for Euro 2012 fans in Ukraine

The launch of high-speed trains in Ukraine will secure fast and comfortable traveling for football supporters that are planning to attend the Euro 2012 European Football Championship matches in Ukraine, UEFA Chief Operating Officer Martin Kallen said.

"It’s our biggest tournament yet in terms of territory and the distance between host cities is huge – transport will play a crucial role in the event’s success. These fast trains will link Euro 2012 host cities and offer fans a quick, comfortable trip from one city to another at a reasonable price," reads a posting on UEFA’s Web site quoting Kallen as saying.

Journey times in Ukraine have been slashed by a quarter after the completion of extensive rail improvements, reads the article."High-speed trains capable of reaching 160km/h are now in operation between all four of the country’s Euro 2012 venues – Kyiv, Kharkiv, Donetsk and Lviv – as well as Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa," according to the article.

The journey between Kyiv and Lviv, for example, has been cut from six and a half hours to under five, while the once six-hour slog from Kyiv to Kharkiv is down to four and a half."Ukraine has undergone significant changes in preparation for the European Championship. There are four new stadiums, four renovated airports, and the road infrastructure has improved within and between the host cities. The rail network has been reconstructed and the new fast trains will provide the best service for our citizens and visitors," Euro 2012 Director in Ukraine Markiyan Lubkivsky said.

A new automated ticket system was launched on May 21, offering users the opportunity to book and purchase tickets online, reads the statement.