BRATISLAVA, Dec. 15 -- A new daily train service connecting the capitals of Slovakia and Ukraine officially launched on Sunday, according to spokesperson Dominik Drevicky of Slovak state-owned passenger train company ZSSK.

The service, operated by the ZSSK, allows passengers to travel from Slovakia's capital Bratislava to the eastern city of Kosice, News Agency of the Slovak Republic quoted Drevicky as saying.

From there, the journey continues through the border town of Cierna nad Tisou to the Ukrainian town of Chop, where travelers can board a sleeper train operated by Ukrainian Railways to reach Kyiv.

Customs checks for passengers will be conducted directly on the train in Cierna nad Tisou, Drevicky added.

State secretary of the Slovak Transport Ministry, Denisa Zilakova, emphasized the importance of the route in strengthening cross-border mobility. "The expansion of rail connections between Slovakia and Ukraine is an important step towards enhancing cross-border mobility," Zilakova noted.

  - Xinhua