Inside Rail Force One, the special train that ferried PM Modi from Poland to Ukraine

Amid much hype and hoopla, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Ukraine during which he is expected to share perspectives on peaceful resolution of the ongoing conflict with the Ukrainian leader.

Modi’s visit to Ukraine comes on the invitation of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This is the first visit by an Indian prime minister to Ukraine since the country became independent in 1991.

Interestingly, Modi made his way to Ukraine from Poland via the ‘Rail Force One’ overnight train, which carried US President Joe Biden from Poland to Kyiv in February 2023.

What do we know of this train? Here’s a look inside.

On board Rail Force One

It is reported that PM Modi undertook a 10-hour rail journey from Poland’s Przemyśl Główny to Ukraine on board the ‘Rail Force One’ — the same diesel-powered train that US President Joe Biden used to make his surprise visit to Kyiv in February last year.

The train, run by Ukrzaliznytsia or Ukrainian Railways, comprises wood-panelled cabins and is kitted out for executive-level work —a long table, a sofa, and a TV on the wall. As per a New York Times report, Biden had a hard time sleeping during the long train ride, recalling his previous trips to Kyiv, including a speech to the Ukrainian Parliament and his remarks on his final trip in 2017. He read a briefing memo on the history of Kyiv back to its founding and reflected on his history with the city.

The wheels for many world leaders

Notably, this rail service has also been used by other world leaders who have visited Ukraine amidst the war. It was first used by prime ministers of Poland, Slovenia and the Czech Republic to visit Kyiv in March 2022.

This was followed up by visits by other top politicians, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Canadian Premier Justin Trudeau, and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also made the journey to Ukraine, along with French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, on board the same train in June 2022.

Even Hollywood actor Sean Penn and music superstar Bono of U2, have used the train to reach Kyiv.

Alexander Kamyshin, the head of Ukraine’s railway company, tells The Guardian that the safety of the world leaders on board the ‘Rail Force One’ is of paramount concern. “We have not had one leak. There have been no photographs from train attendants. We respect the confidence of the delegations.”

He notes that a challenge that he does face is “to treat the various delegations properly because, like Biden, they spend more time on the train than they do in Kyiv. He spent 20 hours on the train and four hours in Kyiv. Everyone knows Ukrainians are brave. We also want them to know that we are welcoming.”

Why the train though

The world leaders who have made their way to Ukraine amidst the ongoing war have chosen Rail Force One, as there are few other alternatives to train travel. The airspace over Ukraine has been closed since the February 24, 2022 invasion and many roads are barely accessible due to heavy fighting. Thus, the railway has established itself as the best means of transporting politicians from around the world to Kyiv.

According to a CNN report, as of February 2023, over 200 foreign diplomatic missions have arrived in the country by train so far, in a programme that is now called “iron diplomacy”.

And while the train journey is comparatively safer, it is not without peril. Russian missile strikes continue to target tracks, bridges and train stations, with the aim of disrupting arms supplies.

Ukraine’s vast rail network

The ‘Rail Force One’ has also shone a light on Ukraine’s vast rail network which, at nearly 15,000 miles, is the 12th largest in the world. Since the war began, rail officials have worked ceaselessly to keep Ukraine’s trains running. They’ve moved over four million refugees and more than 330,000 metric tonnes of humanitarian aid, sending trains right up to — and sometimes beyond — the front lines of the conflict.

Some trains have also been refitted to become mobile medical facilities. Around 2,500 civilians were evacuated for medical treatment via rail in 2022, reported CNN.

When asked how he manages it all — the bombs, the attacks and the many diplomatic missions — Kamyshin told The Wired: “Institutions like Ukrainian Railways always have a plan.”

However, he has also expressed frustration at Rail Force One, which has caused delays to other services on the railway line. “That was painful for me and my team,” he was quoted as telling The Wired. “I apologised to my customers because that’s not the proper level of service we should provide.”

With inputs from agencies