On March 1, 2026, private operator Leo Express officially launched its domestic service on the Warsaw–Krakow route, marking the start of regular operations between Poland’s two largest cities. The inaugural train departed at 7:21 a.m. from Warsaw East Station (Warszawa Wschodnia).
The new route also strengthens the international Warsaw–Krakow–Prague connection, with trains continuing from Krakow Central Station (Kraków Główny) to Ostrava, Olomouc, and Pardubice, all the way to the Czech capital.
Two trains daily, with expansion planned
Currently, Leo Express operates two trains per day between Warsaw and Krakow, with stops at Warsaw Central (Warszawa Centralna), Warsaw West (Warszawa Zachodnia), Opoczno Południe, and Włoszczowa Północ.
Departures are scheduled as follows: By mid-June 2026, the frequency on the Warsaw–Krakow route will increase to four trains daily in each direction.
- From Warsaw at 7:21 and 22:36;
- From Krakow at 3:25 and 18:45.
On the Krakow–Prague route, the frequency will reach three trains daily in each direction, and four on weekends.
High demand at launch
According to the company, over 100,000 tickets have already been sold in Poland for the new services.
The inaugural event was attended by representatives of the Polish railway infrastructure administrator PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe, the Centralny Port Komunikacyjny (CPK) project, and diplomatic officials.
“Competition in rail transport brings significant savings for public budgets and taxpayers. We are demonstrating that key routes can operate without subsidies, on a fully commercial basis,” said Peter Köhler, CEO of Leo Express.
Regional connections and international plans
On the Polish section, trains also stop in Opoczno Południe and Włoszczowa Północ. On the Krakow–Prague route, some services will stop in Oświęcim, and one train will serve Ratiboř, Rybnik, Tychy, and Mysłowice.
From April, the company also plans to introduce a bus connection between Krakow and Lviv (Ukraine).
Looking ahead, Leo Express is planning a new international connection on the Przemyśl–Rzeszów–Krakow–Ostrava–Prague–Dresden–Leipzig–Erfurt–Frankfurt Airport route, as well as Czech-Slovak services between Prague and Bratislava, using Talgo trains.
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