Leo Express
Leo Express is a private multimodal passenger transport company headquartered in Prague, Czech Republic, specializing in train and bus services across Central Europe.[1][2] Founded in 2010, it launched its first train route in late 2012, initially operating as an open-access commercial carrier without subsidies, and has since expanded to connect over 120 destinations in four countries: the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, and Ukraine.[1][3][4] The company was established by Czech entrepreneurs with a focus on providing high-quality, affordable, and sustainable transport alternatives to state monopolies.[5] Its early milestone was the introduction of modern electric multiple units on the Prague–Ostrava route, marking the entry of private competition in the Czech rail market.[3] By 2019, Leo Express diversified into subsidized public service obligation (PSO) contracts, operating regional trains in the Pardubice and Zlín regions of the Czech Republic in partnership with authorities and other operators like Arriva.[6] In 2021, Spanish state-owned Renfe acquired a 50% stake, bolstering international expansion and fleet modernization efforts amid recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.[7] Today, Leo Express offers a range of services including intercity and regional trains, long-distance buses, and limited minibus options, with ticket classes such as Economy, Business, and Premium featuring amenities like Wi-Fi, power sockets, and complimentary refreshments in higher tiers.[1] Key routes include high-speed connections like Prague to Kraków and Bratislava to Košice, emphasizing punctuality, accessibility, and environmental responsibility through low-floor vehicles and electric traction where possible.[8][6] As of 2025, the operator has grown its network to over 120 destinations, with recent developments including the lease of Talgo VI trains from Renfe to support expansion and reported revenues exceeding EUR 40 million in 2024, prioritizing customer satisfaction and innovation in a competitive regional market.[9][10][11] Leo Express maintains a modern fleet comprising primarily Stadler FLIRT electric multiple units for mainline services and Alstom LINT diesel units for regional lines, supplemented by a fleet of buses for complementary routes to Poland and Ukraine.[12][6] With ongoing investments, including recent acquisitions of dual-traction trains and upgrades for international compatibility, the company aims to enhance connectivity and sustainability across its operations.[13][14]Overview
Founding and Ownership
Leo Express was founded on 8 January 2010 by Leoš Novotný as a joint-stock company with its headquarters in Prague, Czech Republic. Initially operating under the name Rapid Express, the company rebranded to Leo Express shortly thereafter to reflect its focus on efficient and modern passenger transport services.[15] The company's ownership structure has evolved significantly since its inception. In August 2021, the Spanish state-owned railway operator Renfe Operadora completed the acquisition of a 50% stake through a capital increase, marking a strategic entry into Central European markets.[16] The remaining shares are held by Leo Mobility s.r.o. with 44.39%, EuroMaint Gruppen AB with 5%, and other minority shareholders with 0.61%.[17] In its early years, Leo Express demonstrated steady growth, achieving consolidated revenues exceeding CZK 1 billion in 2019, a 25% increase from the previous year.[18] The company employed around 300 staff in 2019 to support its operations, with subsequent expansion leading to increased hiring to accommodate route growth and service enhancements across Central Europe.[2]Services and Operations
Leo Express operates as a private open-access train operator, initially without subsidies since launching commercial services in late 2012, relying solely on passenger revenues for its routes. From December 2019, the company expanded into public service obligation (PSO) contracts, receiving subsidies from public budgets to operate regional services in areas like the Pardubice and Zlín regions in the Czech Republic, ensuring continuity and quality improvements such as modern vehicles and onboard Wi-Fi. This hybrid model allows Leo Express to balance commercial risk on long-distance lines with subsidized regional operations, fostering competition in Central Europe's rail market.[6] The company's services encompass both rail and bus transport across Central Europe, connecting more than 120 destinations in six countries, including the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Germany, Austria, and Ukraine. An integrated ticketing system enables seamless multimodal travel, where passengers can book combined train-bus journeys as a single ticket, facilitating efficient connections such as rail from Prague to Ostrava followed by bus to Kraków. In 2017, Leo Express partnered with Trainline to enhance booking accessibility, allowing customers to purchase tickets through the platform for both train and bus services.[9][19] On trains, passengers can select from Economy, Business, or Premium classes, each offering escalating levels of comfort: Economy provides standard seating with access to basic amenities, while Business and Premium include wider seats, more legroom, and exclusive lounges. All classes feature complimentary Wi-Fi, onboard catering with hot and cold refreshments available for purchase, and accessibility options such as low-floor entry for wheelchairs and spaces for pushchairs. Buses similarly provide adjustable seats, free Wi-Fi, power sockets, and bottled water included in fares. In 2024, Leo Express transported 3.8 million passengers—a 124% increase from the previous year, roughly doubling its ridership—and achieved consolidated revenues exceeding €40 million, reflecting strong post-pandemic growth.[20][21][22][17]History
Establishment and Initial Launch (2010–2013)
Leo Express was established in 2010 by entrepreneur Leoš Novotný as a private open-access railway operator in the Czech Republic, with the ambition to challenge the dominance of the state-owned České dráhy in the passenger rail market by introducing higher-quality services and competitive pricing.[23] The company ordered five dual-voltage Stadler Flirt electric multiple-units in September 2010 to support its planned operations.[24] The first of these trainsets was handed over during a ceremony at Stadler Rail's Bussnang facility on 8 February 2012, marking a key milestone in preparations for market entry.[15] Following regulatory approvals, Leo Express initiated a trial passenger service on 13 November 2012, operating two daily round trips on the Prague–Ostrava route, which covered approximately 370 km and served as the company's inaugural corridor.[25] This limited trial, running until 16 November, was part of the final certification process for the fleet and allowed initial testing of operations under real conditions.[26] Due to technical adjustments with the new trains, the planned full commercial launch on 9 December 2012 was postponed, with regular scheduled services commencing instead on 18 January 2013.[27] Operations began with an initial fleet of one Stadler Flirt trainset, configured for 237 passengers across economy, business, and premium classes, featuring amenities such as Wi-Fi and onboard catering.[28] In its first six months of full service, the company transported 400,000 passengers, achieving an overall load factor of around 75%, and reached a cumulative 1.1 million passengers by the end of its first three years.[29] Facing intense competition from the incumbent České dráhy, Leo Express differentiated itself through customer-focused innovations, including advanced online booking systems that enabled easy ticket purchases and dynamic pricing.[30]Expansion Across Central Europe (2014–2019)
During the mid-2010s, Leo Express extended its operations beyond the Czech Republic, leveraging its established Prague-Ostrava corridor as a foundation for regional growth. In 2014, the company expanded into Slovakia by launching international train services from Prague to Košice via Ostrava and Žilina, marking its first cross-border rail expansion and introducing competition to state-owned operators on key eastern routes.[31] To enhance connectivity and diversify its offerings, Leo Express entered the bus sector in 2015 with the launch of services under the LEO Express Easy brand, focusing on feeder routes that integrated with its rail network, such as connections from Bohumín to Kraków and from Mukacheve in Ukraine to Košice in Slovakia. These buses provided affordable, high-comfort options to reach underserved areas, supporting seamless multimodal travel across Central Europe. In 2016, anticipating further network growth, Leo Express placed an order for three six-car electric multiple-unit trainsets from China's CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive, valued at approximately €20 million, with options for up to 30 additional units to bolster capacity on domestic and international lines; however, the deal was cancelled in 2022 amid quality concerns with the delivered prototypes.[32][33] The company's push into Poland accelerated in 2017, when it secured regulatory approval to operate the Prague-Kraków route, positioning itself as a pioneer in the Polish long-distance market. This entry was followed by a strategic partnership with FlixTrain, enabling Leo Express to commence operations on German rail lines in 2018, including the Berlin-Stuttgart corridor, where it provided locomotives and crew as the second-largest private open-access provider in the country.[34][35] That same year, Leo Express achieved a milestone as the first private international carrier on Polish rails, launching direct weekend train services from Prague to Kraków via Bohumín, complete with stops at attractions like Energylandia. Concurrently, it deepened its Slovak presence by adding multiple daily pairs on the Prague-Bratislava route via Brno and Olomouc, enhancing frequency and coverage in the region.[12] This period of expansion culminated in robust growth metrics by 2019, with Leo Express transporting over 2.4 million passengers—a more than 33% increase from 2018—and achieving a turnover of €40 million, reflecting a 25% year-on-year rise driven by new routes, improved service quality, and the launch of subsidized public service obligation (PSO) contracts in the Pardubice and Zlín regions of the Czech Republic in December, in partnership with local authorities and operators like Arriva.[18][36] The partnerships and market entries not only diversified revenue streams but also established Leo Express as a key player in liberalizing Central European passenger rail and bus travel.Post-Pandemic Recovery and Growth (2020–present)
The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted Leo Express's operations in 2020, leading to significant service reductions as passenger demand plummeted across European rail networks. The company suspended multiple routes and scaled back frequencies to comply with travel restrictions and health guidelines, resulting in a sharp decline in ridership. Despite these challenges, Leo Express achieved a key milestone in November 2020 when Germany's Federal Railway Authority certified it for passenger operations, marking it as the first Czech operator approved for the German market; however, the rollout of services was delayed due to ongoing pandemic disruptions.[37] In 2021, Leo Express began resuming services with enhanced safety protocols, including mandatory mask-wearing, enhanced cleaning, and capacity limits to mitigate health risks, which supported a gradual return to pre-pandemic levels on core routes. A pivotal development occurred in August 2021 when Spanish state-owned operator Renfe completed its acquisition of a 50% stake in Leo Express, injecting capital and strategic expertise to bolster recovery and expansion in Central Europe. This partnership provided financial stability amid the lingering effects of the crisis, enabling the company to rebuild its network while leveraging Renfe's international experience.[38][39] The year 2022 brought operational hurdles, including the suspension of services on the Břeclav–Přerov corridor in July following the Czech Republic's infrastructure manager's completion of electrification upgrades from DC to AC, which rendered Leo Express's existing electric multiple units incompatible without modifications. Additionally, in April 2022, the company cancelled a contract for three six-car Sirius electric multiple units from China's CRRC ZELC due to protracted certification delays and evolving fleet needs, redirecting resources toward more immediate priorities. These setbacks contrasted with the steady pre-2020 expansions that had established a robust foundation across Czechia, Slovakia, and Poland.[40][33] From 2023 to 2024, Leo Express experienced robust recovery, with passenger numbers doubling to 3.8 million in 2024 compared to the prior year, driven by increased demand on international routes and the Renfe partnership's synergies. Revenues surpassed €40 million in 2024, reflecting a 66% year-on-year increase and marking the company's first profitable year with a net profit of €1.7 million, underscoring its strengthened market position.[11][41] Looking ahead to 2025, Leo Express announced plans to launch a new daily train service between Kraków and Prague starting December 14, enhancing connectivity with four daily options including night services to accommodate growing cross-border travel. To support intensified operations on the Prague–Bratislava corridor, the company signed a 10-year lease in October 2025 for three Talgo VI trainsets from Renfe's leasing subsidiary, enabling higher-capacity and more efficient services set to commence in 2026. In November 2025, Leo Express announced a partnership with Italian startup Arenaways to introduce direct daily train services (daytime and nighttime) between Prague and Venice starting December 2027. These initiatives signal continued growth, building on the post-pandemic momentum to expand Leo Express's footprint in Central Europe.[42][43][44]Rail Operations
Current Train Routes
Leo Express operates intercity rail services along key corridors in the Czech Republic, extending into Slovakia and Poland, with a focus on high-speed connections. The company also runs regional services under public service obligation (PSO) contracts in the Pardubice and Zlín regions of the Czech Republic.[6] The core domestic route runs between Prague and Ostrava via stops such as Olomouc and Přerov, providing up to 10 daily train pairs to serve the busy industrial and urban corridor in the Czech Republic.[45][46] International extensions from this main line connect to Košice in eastern Slovakia, operating as a direct service from Prague through Ostrava and Přerov, with multiple daily departures to facilitate cross-border travel.[45] In Poland, routes include Prague to Katowice via Bohumín and Ostrava, forming a key link for commuters and tourists, with services continuing onward to Kraków 5 times per week as of November 2025, and some trains operating twice on selected days.[45][47] A new daily direct service between Prague and Kraków is scheduled to launch on December 14, 2025, enhancing connectivity on this route, with extensions to Warsaw planned to begin on March 1, 2026.[42][48] Additional rail services include a connection from Prague to Wrocław via Lichkov and Kłodzko, operating several times per week to link the Czech border region with southwestern Poland.[45] Leo Express integrates its train routes with bus feeder services at major stations like Prague and Ostrava, allowing seamless multimodal travel to smaller destinations across Central Europe.[49] Planned extensions to Bratislava from Prague via Přerov and Břeclav are set for introduction in the 2026 timetable, further expanding Slovak coverage.[50]| Route | Countries | Frequency (as of November 2025) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prague – Ostrava (via Přerov, Olomouc) | Czech Republic | Up to 10 daily pairs | Core domestic corridor; basis for international extensions[45] |
| Prague – Košice (via Ostrava, Přerov) | Czech Republic, Slovakia | Multiple daily | Direct cross-border service to eastern Slovakia[45] |
| Prague – Katowice (via Ostrava, Bohumín) | Czech Republic, Poland | Several daily | Links to Polish Silesia; some continue to Kraków[45] |
| Prague – Kraków (via Ostrava, Bohumín, Katowice) | Czech Republic, Poland | 5 times per week | Some days twice daily; increasing to daily from December 14, 2025; extensions to Warsaw from March 1, 2026[42][47][48] |
| Prague – Wrocław (via Lichkov, Kłodzko) | Czech Republic, Poland | Several times per week | Border regional connection[45] |