It was expected that the new diesel multiple unit will be based at the
Ternopil depot, as part of the Lviv Railway in the fall of 2019. However, on December 27, 2019, the train was assigned to the
Kyiv Boryspil Express route. Due to the
sharp reduction in passenger demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic and reduced international air traffic, in March 2020 UZ temporarily suspended its operation. On September 9, 2020, the diesel train was sent from Kyiv for a run-in at Smila (T. Shevchenko station of the Odesa Railway). On September 11, manufacturer Krukivsky Carriage Works announced results, pointing to several technical shortcomings of the Odesa Railway's TC-5 depot, selected to maintain the DPKr-3-001 train. Krukivsky announced the need to find another route and service provider. This statement was amended in their next press release, however, stating that the depot needs to be prepared for servicing the train and that on September 17 another test run was organized. It was also announced that by September 26, all the discrepancies of the depot indicated by Krukivsky specialists should be eliminated in full, and commercial transportation of passengers in this direction of traffic can begin right after. Before entering regular operation, the train's technical condition was verified and rail workers performed maintenance. In Kyiv, the training of Odesa Railway locomotive crews was organized by Krukivsky specialists. As a result of the run-ins, the route, schedule, and other traffic parameters were worked out. On September 23, 2020, DPKr-3 went on its first regular trip as a regional train No.805 connecting Cherkasy and T. Shevchenko stations. From September 24, the train performs 8 daily runs between Cherkasy and Smila, numbered No.803/804, 805/806, 807/808, 809/810. Only one pair of trains, No.803/804 make an intermediate stop at Smila station, others run non-stop. The schedule allows passengers from Cherkasy to change to several passenger and high-speed trains, including Intercity, which stops at the Taras Shevchenko station and goes not only to Kyiv but also in other directions. As the new trains were classified as regional, the ticket price is higher than the suburban ones. The cost of tickets varies from ₴25 to ₴30 (second class) and ₴70-80 (first class). On weekends the price is somewhat higher. The diesel train is serviced in the T. Shevchenko (RPD-5) motor car depot, which is structurally subordinated to the motor car depot Khrystynivka (RPC-6) of the suburban passenger transportation department of the Odesa Railway. The work of the train is monitored by the Kyiv department of Krukivsky Carriage Works. == References ==