On June 25, Leo Express launched a new international connection between Frankfurt, Prague, and Przemyśl, a Polish city located near the border with Ukraine. The operator will initially use trains between Germany, the Czech Republic, and Bohumín, and will temporarily introduce buses on the Bohumín–Kraków–Tarnów–Rzeszów–Przemyśl segment until the economic balance procedure in Poland is completed.
Leo Express launched a new international connection on the Frankfurt–Prague–Przemyśl route and back on June 25, using modernized railcars designed for international service.
The new route aims to connect Germany, the Czech Republic, and Poland with the area near the Ukrainian border, at a time when Przemyśl has become one of the main rail access points to Ukraine.
The operator will use modernized RIC railcars, designed for international service and equipped with air conditioning and Wi-Fi. Catering and other passenger services will be available on board.
The Polish segment will temporarily begin with buses
Tickets are available starting at EUR 9.9.
Leo Express states that it is ready to immediately operate the new train connection to Przemyśl, once the economic balance procedure in Poland has been resolved.
Until then, the company will introduce a bus connection on the Bohumín–Kraków–Tarnów–Rzeszów–Przemyśl segment.
The buses will transport passengers who have already purchased tickets and will provide connections to Leo Express trains in both directions.
The economic balance procedure is used in rail transport to assess whether a new commercial service could affect existing public service contracts. Until this process is completed, Leo Express cannot operate trains between the Czech border and Przemyśl.
Passengers traveling to stations where the bus does not stop will receive a ticket refund and compensation of 100% of the ticket price in the form of Leo credits, which can be used to purchase future tickets or for onboard services.
“Ensuring that our passengers reach their destination remains our top priority. In this situation, we are introducing a bus connection to transport passengers who have already purchased tickets. They will then transfer to a Leo Express train and continue their journey,” explained Peter Köhler, CEO of Leo Express.
He added that ticket sales for the Polish segment will begin once the operator is able to run trains along the entire route.
Connection between Western Europe and the Ukrainian border
Leo Express is introducing the new route as part of its strategy to connect major European metropolitan areas and offer travel options on routes where direct connections did not previously exist.
“One of Leo Express’s goals is to connect major European metropolitan areas and offer comfortable travel options on routes where there were previously no direct connections. The potential of the new line lies in overcoming the perceived barrier between Eastern and Western Europe by connecting important economic and cultural centers with the Ukrainian border,” said Peter Köhler.
The operator’s CEO said that the long-term strategy is to build trans-European transport corridors that offer a more eco-friendly and comfortable alternative to air travel, buses, and cars.
“The new Leo Express connection is an international route aimed at Ukrainians traveling to Przemyśl, as well as international travelers from Kraków, Tarnów, and Rzeszów. We are confident that our service, which offers European transportation options that do not currently exist, will be approved soon,” Peter Köhler added.
Modernized Railcars and Expansion to Business Class
In the first phase, Leo Express will use 3 first-class railcars, each with a capacity of 54 seats, though they will be operated as Economy class.
Over the summer, services are expected to be expanded with the introduction of additional Business Class railcars and sleeper railcars.
The operator says it is prepared to increase the number of railcars depending on demand.
Onboard staff will be able to communicate in Polish, Czech, English, and German.
Schedule Affected by Construction Work in Germany
The new route is also affected by extensive infrastructure construction work in Germany.
Leo Express notes that, due to this construction, the train schedule has been adjusted, and the operator received the final version of the temporary schedule shortly before the route’s launch.
Heading toward Germany, the train will depart from Bohumín in the afternoon, arrive at Prague Main Station in the evening, and continue overnight to Frankfurt Airport.
In the opposite direction, the train will depart from Frankfurt Airport at 14:39, arrive in Prague during the night, and stop at Bohumín at 6:01 in the morning.
The schedule announced by the operator is:
Bohumín 5:45 p.m. – Prague 10:32 p.m. – Dresden 1:38 a.m. – Frankfurt Airport 8:06 a.m.
Frankfurt Airport 2:39 p.m. – Dresden 10:30 p.m. – Prague 1:17 a.m. – Bohumín 6:01 a.m.
In Germany, the train will also stop at Leipzig, Fulda, Hanau, Offenbach and Frankfurt Süd.
Leo Express emphasizes that the current schedule is a compromise necessitated by track closures and infrastructure work in Germany, as well as a change in the departure time from Frankfurt.
Closures of certain infrastructure sections will continue throughout the summer and fall, affecting both the train schedule and the stations currently served.
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