Leo Express Stops Train Service from Frankfurt via Prague to Poland

Leo Express has discontinued its new long-distance service from Frankfurt via Thuringia and Prague to eastern Poland after only around three months. The reason is numerous construction works, closures and short-notice timetable changes on the German rail network.

Since Monday, 5 October, trains operated by the Czech railway company Leo Express have no longer been running on the route from Frankfurt via Thuringia, Prague and Kraków to the Polish city of Przemyśl. The company cites ongoing construction works and further planned line closures on the German rail network as the reason. These had increasingly affected the stability of the timetable and the reliable operation of the service.

“Operating with timetables that change practically every day, line closures and diversions is not sustainable in the long term,” Leo Express explained on its website. In view of the current situation, the company therefore decided not to continue operating the route this year.

Photo: Leo Express

The new international service had only started at the end of June. The trains ran from Frankfurt via Eisenach, Gotha, Erfurt, Weimar and Apolda, among other stops, before continuing towards the Czech Republic and Poland. During the initial phase, replacement buses still had to be used on some sections in Poland.

With the service, Leo Express aimed to establish a new direct rail connection between Germany, the Czech Republic and Poland. For now, however, the service is ending significantly earlier than planned. According to the company, talks are under way with Deutsche Bahn about possible future connections. Whether and when the route could resume is currently unclear.

Passengers who have already purchased tickets for services after 5 October are to be contacted by Leo Express customer service and compensated accordingly.