The train from Prague to Kiev, Ukraine takes about 39 hours. The route goes through Kolin, Pardubice, Olomouc and Ostrava in the Czech Republic. Then it crosses the border into Poland.
The train from Prague actually terminates in Krakow, Poland at which point the coaches that are going on to Ukraine have to wait in the railroad yard for a few hours. Eventually the other cars, from Warsaw for instance, arrive and the new train is assembled. You never have to leave you coach, although some people get out and walk to a supermarket to buy food.
The new train continues to the Polish/Ukrainian border at Presmysl. There is another delay there of a few hours while they swap out the wheels for the narrower gauge in Eastern Europe.
Once underway, it is on to Lviv. Arrival in Lvov is about 11:30 PM. Very late. Lviv is the Ukrainian spelling; Lvov is the Russian spelling.
One more night of sleeping on the train and we arrived in Kiev the next morning. Total time spent on the train was about 39 hours. But it is quite comfortable.
Sleeping Accomadation
When you travel by overnight train in Ukraine, you want to get Kupeny accomodation. This is a second class compartment that normally has four bed. The is cheaper alternative with all the beds in an open car. But the kupeny is not much more expensive and well worth it.
