Czech railway company LEO Express will launch a new international rail connection in summer 2026 linking Poland, the Czech Republic and Germany. Several times per week, trains will run from Kraków through Prague and Leipzig to Frankfurt (Main), offering a new direct rail option between Central Europe and Germany.
To mark the launch, many tickets are available from just €10 one-way. From Poland and the Czech Republic you’ll be able to travel to Germany or along the route to cities such as Ostrava, Katowice, Leipzig, and Dresden.
Prices vary depending on the month and specific route, but tickets starting at €10 are available across the network. Currently, journeys can be booked for travel between June 25 and November 2026.
In the medium term, the route is expected to use locomotive-hauled trains with former Deutsche Bahn InterCity carriages (source). However, the booking interface currently shows seats from a two-car regional diesel train, which is likely just a placeholder image until the actual DB carriages are added. LEO Express itself is majority-owned by the Spanish state railway Renfe.
Editor’s Note: It’s always good to see new and cheap train connections. While the travel times are longer than with a plane, you don’t have the hassle of airport transfers, luggage fees, etc. And it only costs €10!
Route & Travel Times
LEO Express plans daily services to Frankfurt. Eastbound trains sometimes terminate in Bohumín in eastern Czechia, while on other days they continue to Kraków or even Przemyśl, near the Ukrainian border. Exact schedules vary depending on whether the train departs Frankfurt in the morning or around midday.
Approximate journey times include:
- Kraków – Frankfurt: ~12h
- Przemyśl – Frankfurt: ~18h
- Prague – Frankfurt: ~9h
- Dresden – Prague: ~3h
- Leipzig – Frankfurt: ~4h
- Leipzig – Ostrava: ~8h
Within Germany, the trains are comparatively slow. For example, an ICE can cover Frankfurt–Dresden in under 4.5 hours, while the LEO Express service takes about 6 hours.
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Trains & Comfort
As mentioned, the plan is to operate the route with refurbished DB InterCity coaches hauled by locomotives. It is not yet clear whether LEO Express will replace the seats (as FlixTrain has done on its trains).
Overall, LEO Express generally has a decent reputation for comfort, although opinions might differ after spending 18 hours on board.
The current booking website suggests two-car diesel multiple units, but this is likely only a placeholder until images of the InterCity coaches become available.
