Children's railway in Rivne, railway line in Ukraine
The Children's railway in Rivne is a narrow-gauge line that has run through the city center since 1949 and stretches over 100 kilometers between Antonivka and Zarichne stations. A diesel locomotive pulls two small cars on weekends only, traveling at slow speed to keep the journey safe and engaging for young riders.
This railway was built in 1949 after World War Two when Ukraine was constructing several children's lines, with the original route carrying lumber and firewood. It modernized in the 1970s when a steam locomotive was replaced with a diesel engine and wooden cars gave way to Polish steel cars.
This railway was created as both entertainment and education for children, and has remained central to how the city brings young people together on weekends. Walking through, you observe kids taking real roles like conductor, ticket seller, or locomotive helper, learning about railway work from adults hands-on.
The line runs only on weekends from May through late September, with departures roughly every 30 to 40 minutes starting at 10 a.m. until about 4 p.m. Tickets cost under a dollar for children and about 1.50 dollars for adults, making family trips affordable.
Over its more than 70 years, roughly 30,000 students have trained here and taken on real railway duties, making this line a working school for future railroad workers. During cold months children receive classroom instruction, and in warmer months they train hands-on along the actual track.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
