Latest news with #LeoExpress
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Plans for new 19-hour European sleeper train with 50 stops unveiled
Leo Express has unveiled plans for a sleeper service that would call at stations including Brussels, Cologne, Hanover, Dresden, and Prague, running from Ostend in Belgium with the Slovakian capital, Bratislava, by next year A night train could connect Ostend in Belgium with the Slovakian capital, Bratislava, by next year. Leo Express has unveiled plans for a sleeper service that would call at stations including Brussels, Cologne, Hanover, Dresden, and Prague. The Czech-based subsidiary of the Spanish national operator, Renfe, wants to run the service down the 750-mile route from December 2026. Over the course of 19 hours, passengers would be taken from the North Sea coast to the Danube at an average speed of 39 mph. While this might not seem overly fast, UK passengers will be able to travel out from London St Pancras in the evening, hop on the train at Brussels Midi, and arrive in Bratislava at 2:18 p.m. the following day, The Independent reports. The news comes after The Mirror compared taking the train to Spain with going via plane. 'I lost my mind taking the train to Spain - there are three problems' In total, the rolling stock will be able to carry 450 passengers, with some compartments housing six bunks—presumably rendering the overnight ticket price fairly reasonable. Another big draw of the service will be the stations the train stops in, which include Bruges and Ghent in Belgium, plus Aachen and Dresden in Germany. It is likely to be popular with those concerned about the environment, as travelling by train is typically much greener than travelling by plane. To turn the plans into a reality, Leo Express will need to gain permission and train paths from rail authorities in Belgium, France, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. The company will also be competing with budget airfares that link the likes of Brussels and Bratislava for £16. The service is not the only one that could be coming to Europe in the coming years. A series of massive rail projects is currently underway, with train travel in Europe likely to look very different in less than ten years from how it does today. One of them will link Hamburg and Copenhagen. The vast undersea tunnel is being built and will carry two rail lines and a pair of two-lane highways under the Baltic Sea. Construction of the Fehmarnbelt tunnel has started on the shores of the Baltic Sea, in the south of Denmark. Once finished it will link the country and Germany. The project will be the world's longest road and rail tunnel, and the world's longest immersed tunnel, stretching 11.2 miles. The tunnel will enable both freight and commuter traffic, reducing carbon emissions, freeing up capacity on the roads and railways, and moving freight from lorries to more environmentally friendly electric trains. Another will go between Budapest and Belgrade. It is currently possible to travel between these two great cities on the Danube, but it takes a while and three changes. Next year that will change when a high-speed line built with Chinese backing gets going. The difference in effort required as well as the length of journey will be significant. Passengers will be whisked between the two cities in just two hours and 40 minutes instead of seven.
The Independent
4 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
New 750-mile train route could connect Belgium, Germany and Slovakia
Leo Express, a Czech-based rail operator, has filed plans for a new overnight sleeper train service connecting Ostend, Belgium, with Bratislava, Slovakia, potentially starting in December 2026. The proposed 750-mile route would take around 19 hours, include 50 stops, and serve major cities such as Brussels, Cologne, Dresden, and Prague. The service aims to offer refurbished carriages with seats, couchettes, and beds for up to 450 passengers, providing a connection for UK travellers via Eurostar from London to Brussels. Rail experts express significant doubts about the project's feasibility, citing challenges in securing train paths, high operational costs, logistical complexities, and intense competition from budget airlines. Despite the initial filing, Leo Express later clarified that these plans "do not represent concrete plans," casting uncertainty over the service's future.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
New European sleeper train planned from Belgium to Slovakia
Trains travelling through the night at 100mph could connect Ostend in Belgium with the Slovakian capital, Bratislava, by next year. Leo Express, the Czech-based subsidiary of the Spanish national operator, Renfe, has filed plans for a sleeper train that would call at Brussels, Cologne, Hanover, Dresden, Prague and many more stations along the 750-mile route. Plans for the service, proposed to begin in December 2026, have been published by the Belgian Regulatory Body for Railway Transport. Leo Express says in its application: 'The planned connection involves new traffic that does not exist today.' The whole journey between the North Sea coast and the Danube is planned to take just over 19 hours, representing an average speed of 39mph. The overnight train would leave Ostend at 7.10pm, allowing UK travellers to connect at Brussels Midi (for an 8.19pm departure) after taking Eurostar from London St Pancras International. Arrival is scheduled for 2.18pm next day in Bratislava. The timing means the train can carry day passengers through the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The rolling stock would comprise refurbished carriages offering seats, couchettes (six bunks to a compartment) and proper beds. It will initially have capacity for 450 passengers Other appealing locations served by the train include Bruges and Ghent in Belgium, plus Aachen and Dresden in Germany. A total of 50 stops are planned. Read more: Inside luxury sleeper train the Britannic Explorer Overnight rail services went into steep decline as budget airlines expanded across Europe, but have had something of a resurgence. Austrian Railways (OBB) has reintroduced a wide range of routes, and in December 2023 the Berlin-Paris sleeper was restored. But rail experts have cast doubt on whether the Ostend-Bratislava project is feasible. Leo Express will need to gain permission and train paths from rail authorities in Belgium, France, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and compete against some extremely low air fares. In September, Ryanair flights are available from Brussels (South) to Bratislava for €18 (£16). The announcement has been covered by Thomas Wintle of the Rotterdam-based publication Rail Tech. He wrote: 'Night trains are popular in theory, but often expensive to run and logistically complex in practice. They face higher staffing and maintenance costs, tighter scheduling windows, and frequent cross-border disruptions. 'Recent construction works derailing sleepers travelling through Germany and France is a case in point. Despite strong public enthusiasm and EU policy backing, occupancy rates can also remain modest compared to daytime intercity services.' Nicky Gardner, co-author of Europe by Rail, said: 'Leo Express are talking about late 2026, but I just cannot see them getting paths through Germany at times they would like. Time will tell.' The new service would offer some competition to European Sleeper, a cooperative that is running night trains from Amsterdam via Brussels and Berlin to Prague. Leo Express later told Rail Tech: 'From our perspective, they do not represent concrete plans.' The company started up in 2010 as a Czech domestic train operator in competition with the state railway. Renfe, Spain's state rail operator, took a majority stake in 2021. Ostend was once the gateway to central and eastern Europe from the UK. Frequent ferries from English ports connected with international trains deep into the Continent. But all links ended when the 'Seacat' high-speed passenger ferry from Dover ceased two decades ago.
The Independent
4 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
New European sleeper train planned from Belgium to Slovakia
Trains travelling through the night at 100mph could connect Ostend in Belgium with the Slovakian capital, Bratislava, by next year. Leo Express, the Czech-based subsidiary of the Spanish national operator, Renfe, has filed plans for a sleeper train that would call at Brussels, Cologne, Hanover, Dresden, Prague and many more stations along the 750-mile route. Plans for the service, proposed to begin in December 2026, have been published by the Belgian Regulatory Body for Railway Transport. Leo Express says in its application: 'The planned connection involves new traffic that does not exist today.' The whole journey between the North Sea coast and the Danube is planned to take just over 19 hours, representing an average speed of 39mph. The overnight train would leave Ostend at 7.10pm, allowing UK travellers to connect at Brussels Midi (for an 8.19pm departure) after taking Eurostar from London St Pancras International. Arrival is scheduled for 2.18pm next day in Bratislava. The timing means the train can carry day passengers through the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The rolling stock would comprise refurbished carriages offering seats, couchettes (six bunks to a compartment) and proper beds. It will initially have capacity for 450 passengers Other appealing locations served by the train include Bruges and Ghent in Belgium, plus Aachen and Dresden in Germany. A total of 50 stops are planned. Overnight rail services went into steep decline as budget airlines expanded across Europe, but have had something of a resurgence. Austrian Railways (OBB) has reintroduced a wide range of routes, and in December 2023 the Berlin-Paris sleeper was restored. But rail experts have cast doubt on whether the Ostend-Bratislava project is feasible. Leo Express will need to gain permission and train paths from rail authorities in Belgium, France, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and compete against some extremely low air fares. In September, Ryanair flights are available from Brussels (South) to Bratislava for €18 (£16). The announcement has been covered by Thomas Wintle of the Rotterdam-based publication Rail Tech. He wrote: 'Night trains are popular in theory, but often expensive to run and logistically complex in practice. They face higher staffing and maintenance costs, tighter scheduling windows, and frequent cross-border disruptions. 'Recent construction works derailing sleepers travelling through Germany and France is a case in point. Despite strong public enthusiasm and EU policy backing, occupancy rates can also remain modest compared to daytime intercity services.' Nicky Gardner, co-author of Europe by Rail, said: 'Leo Express are talking about late 2026, but I just cannot see them getting paths through Germany at times they would like. Time will tell.' The new service would offer some competition to European Sleeper, a cooperative that is running night trains from Amsterdam via Brussels and Berlin to Prague. Leo Express later told Rail Tech: 'From our perspective, they do not represent concrete plans.' The company started up in 2010 as a Czech domestic train operator in competition with the state railway. Renfe, Spain's state rail operator, took a majority stake in 2021. Ostend was once the gateway to central and eastern Europe from the UK. Frequent ferries from English ports connected with international trains deep into the Continent. But all links ended when the 'Seacat' high-speed passenger ferry from Dover ceased two decades ago.
