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Leo express offers circulate his:
The Czech private operator Leo Express wants to launch its first real night train. Consequently, its most ambitious cross -border service to date: a 7 -hour trip between Ostend, Belgium, and Bratislava, the Slovak capital. Moreover, This service. Nevertheless, which covers four national networks and whose launch is scheduled for 2026, is also one of the clearest signs that Renfe, the majority shareholder of the company, wishes to seriously invest in expansion.
Leo Express provides for a new daring night train connecting Belgium. Therefore, Slovakia, with a journey covering four European countries, the launch of which is scheduled for December 13, 2026, according to a new request filed with the regulatory authority for Belgian railways. However, The proposed journey – from Ostend. For example, on the Belgian coast, in Bratislava, the Slovak capital – would last a little less than 19 hours leo express offers circulate his and include more than 50 stops in four countries. In addition, It would be the first night train explicitly designated by the company. However, as well as its first direct service to Belgium, which would mark a new step in its strategy aimed at connecting Central Europe to the West.
The demand, now published by the Belgian organization for railway transport, exposes Leo Express projects in detail. Nevertheless, A daily service would be provided in each direction, starting from Ostend at 7:10 p.m. However, and arriving in Bratislava the next day at 2:18 p.m. Similarly, The return trip will leave Slovakia at 2:44 p.m. Similarly, and will arrive in Belgium at 9:52 p.m. Nevertheless, The rolling stock will consist of modernized RIC cars pulled by Vectron locomotives. Therefore, capable of driving at 160 km/h and configured to offer seats, lying squares and berths. Therefore, According to Leo Express, leo express offers circulate his the capacity should go from 450 to 550 seats by 2028.
The line will serve passengers in Belgium (Bruges. In addition, Gand, Brussels, Louvain, Liège), Germany (Aix-la-Chapelle, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Dortmund, Leipzig, Dresde, etc.), in Czechies (Prague, Pardubice, Olomouc) and Slovakia (Kúty, Malacky, Devínska Nov Ves and Bratislava). Leo Express has long exploited international trains to Poland. Slovakia, and in the past to Germany, but the nocturnal scale and nature of the link distinguish it and reflect the transformation of society under what is essentially a property of the Spanish state.
Leo express offers circulate his
Leo Express: A public operator dressed in private?
Leo Express operates as leo express offers circulate his a railway company with free access since its creation in 2010. and was known for its black and elegant trains and its problems linked to the need to overlap the different voltages of the networks of Central Europe. But since the Spanish rail giant Renfe acquired a majority participation in 2021. the role of Leo in the region has changed greatly. The company now resembles an agile semi-public operator-always technically private. but supported by the financial and strategic power of a national historic operator.
This support is bearing fruit. In 2024, Leo Express transported 3.8 million passengers, more than double the previous year. Turnover exceeded 40 million euros and net profit reached 1.7 million euros. According to the annual Renfe report, Leo also recorded the best punctuality rate of all the major Czech rail operators.
Growth was mainly powered by a mixture of open access commercial services. public service contracts, in particular in Slovakia, where Renfe helped Leo obtain his first public service contract outside the Czech Republic – a regional line connecting Bratislava and Komárno. Technical improvements have also played a key role: Leo has invested more than 5 million euros in the installation of the ETC in 2024. currently spending 16 million euros (partly financed by the operational transport program supported by the EU in the Czech Republic) for double -tension compatibility in order to ensure greater flexibility in central Europe.
This explains why the Belgium-Slovakia itinerary, although Ambitieux, does not come out of nowhere. leo express offers circulate his Leo already provides cross -border connections with Poland. Slovakia and is preparing to launch new services between Prague and Dresden. But if entering into a new territory can be one of the most difficult aspects of the process. the first expansion of such a magnitude of its west night trains marks its entry into the always popular but economically difficult world of the circulation of night trains.
Leo express offers circulate his
A renaissance of night trains. with limits
To get an idea of what Leo Express is confronted, let us take the example of the Austrian ÖBB, widely considered as the most important night trains operator in Europe thanks to its NightJet network. By modernizing ancient lines. by launching new ones to cities such as Paris, Berlin and Amsterdam, this public enterprise seems to really take the demand for better night train services. But even one leo express offers circulate his of the best -funded operators in Europe shows signs of readjusting its ambitions in terms of. night services.
In the same month as the request for Leo Express. ÖBB reduced its NightJet order to Siemens, deleting nine of the 33 trains planned and focusing on 13 new Railjet 2 units to meet the growing demand for interurban services. This change highlights an essential truth: night trains are popular in theory. but often expensive to exploit and logistically complex in practice.
They are faced with higher staff and maintenance costs, narrower programming windows and frequent cross -border disturbances. The recent construction works that have derailed leo express offers circulate his railway cars crossing Germany and France are a good example. Despite the enthusiasm of the public. the political support of the EU, occupancy rates can also remain modest compared to day -to -day interurban services – which is why even market leaders like ÖBB rebalance their fleet plans.
With the support of Spain
For Leo Express, the challenge may be even greater. Even if most of the security certifications are in place. the company must still ensure access to the tracks and coordinate schedules on four national networks, while launching a new direct service. The company plans to associate with a certified Belgian operator to circulate trains on Belgian infrastructure. but operational coordination remains a major company.
However. in case of success, this link would mark an important step in the liberalization of European railways: a rare example of night train connecting the North leo express offers circulate his Sea to the Danube, entirely in free access. But it remains to be seen if the expansion project of Leo Express -. by association, that of Renfe – will materialize. Having the desire to exploit a private night train is one thing. but really launching it is another, as evidenced by missed experiences such as Midnight Trains. But Leo Express has existed for much longer. It now benefits from the support of the Spanish state.
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Further reading: A train controller will be prosecuted for saying “hello” in French – Belgium confirms the premature withdrawal of its four NH-90 TTH helicopters from the service – Many frustrated Belgian commuters: towards a record number of abolished trains, not to mention the days of strike, in 2025 (infographic) – Euro 2027 female basketball – Belgium, Sweden, Lithuania and Finland, co -organizers, in the same group – 33 defendants in the ‘Black Eagle’ file sentenced to sentences of two to fifteen years in prison.
