 In 1871 Poltava was connected with Kharkiv providing with an alternative to reach the city of Odessa and its port with the Russian central provinces through Kharkiv.In 1872-73 major expansion of railway network started in Russian Volhynia branching out of the Kiev-Odessa railroad near Koziatyn west pass Brest-Litovsk and connecting such cities like Kovel, Rivne, Zdolbuniv, Shepetivka, Berdychiv and others.In 1873 from Zdolbuniv was extended another branch towards Brody becoming another border rail crossing.