Private rail operator Leo Express has announced a 1 300-km overnight service that from 25 June 2026 will connect Przemyśl on the Polish-Ukrainian border with Kraków, Prague and Frankfurt Airport. Tickets went on sale this week following EU approval under the bloc’s liberalised open-access regime for international passenger trains. (visahq.com)
The route will deploy low-floor Stadler Flirt trainsets boasting 5G Wi-Fi, full-service dining cars and new Business-class compartments designed to lure corporate travellers away from short-haul flights on the congested Prague–Frankfurt corridor. The timetable offers same-ticket transfers between Leo Express’s domestic network and early-morning intercontinental flights departing Germany’s busiest hub.
For mobility managers the implications are twofold. First, the rail option cuts carbon footprints at a time when many ESG-conscious employers are under pressure to meet sustainability targets. Second, the itinerary threads together Schengen and non-Schengen territories, meaning HR teams must double-check that assignees starting or ending their journey in Ukraine hold the correct combination of visas and residence permits. (visahq.com)
![Leo Express Unveils Overnight Rail Link Connecting Prague with Frankfurt Airport and the Ukrainian Border]()
Transport Minister Martin Kupka hailed the project as evidence that Czech infrastructure upgrades are paying off, noting that by 2027 eight European capitals should be reachable from Prague without a change of train. The service also supports Czechia’s broader strategy of positioning itself as a Central-European rail hub capable of feeding passenger traffic to both EU and non-EU markets.
Companies navigating this new cross-border rail landscape can lean on VisaHQ for fast, expert visa assistance. Whether travellers need a straightforward Schengen entry, a multiple-entry permit for non-Schengen segments or simply clarification of transit rules, VisaHQ’s Prague team provides end-to-end support via a secure online platform. Explore the full range of services at https://www.visahq.com/czech-republic/.
Practical steps for employers include updating travel-policy matrices to recognise the new route, aligning per-diem budgets with on-board service levels, and training travel bookers to run visa checks when an itinerary crosses the EU’s external border in Przemyśl.
The route will deploy low-floor Stadler Flirt trainsets boasting 5G Wi-Fi, full-service dining cars and new Business-class compartments designed to lure corporate travellers away from short-haul flights on the congested Prague–Frankfurt corridor. The timetable offers same-ticket transfers between Leo Express’s domestic network and early-morning intercontinental flights departing Germany’s busiest hub.
For mobility managers the implications are twofold. First, the rail option cuts carbon footprints at a time when many ESG-conscious employers are under pressure to meet sustainability targets. Second, the itinerary threads together Schengen and non-Schengen territories, meaning HR teams must double-check that assignees starting or ending their journey in Ukraine hold the correct combination of visas and residence permits. (visahq.com)
Transport Minister Martin Kupka hailed the project as evidence that Czech infrastructure upgrades are paying off, noting that by 2027 eight European capitals should be reachable from Prague without a change of train. The service also supports Czechia’s broader strategy of positioning itself as a Central-European rail hub capable of feeding passenger traffic to both EU and non-EU markets.
Companies navigating this new cross-border rail landscape can lean on VisaHQ for fast, expert visa assistance. Whether travellers need a straightforward Schengen entry, a multiple-entry permit for non-Schengen segments or simply clarification of transit rules, VisaHQ’s Prague team provides end-to-end support via a secure online platform. Explore the full range of services at https://www.visahq.com/czech-republic/.
Practical steps for employers include updating travel-policy matrices to recognise the new route, aligning per-diem budgets with on-board service levels, and training travel bookers to run visa checks when an itinerary crosses the EU’s external border in Przemyśl.
