Private rail operator Leo Express presented its first Talgo trainset in Prague on 20 February, marking the start of a fleet renewal programme that will see the Spanish-built, 200 km/h units enter passenger service on the Prague–Ostrava–Košice corridor in mid-2026.
Each 13-car set offers 350 seats, low-floor boarding and multi-system traction, enabling seamless operation on both Czech and Slovak electrification systems without locomotive changes. The trains’ passive-tilt technology will shave up to 20 minutes off the six-hour Prague–Košice journey, according to Leo Express CEO Peter Köhler.
For mobility managers the upgrade expands comfortable, carbon-light alternatives to air or road for intra-company commuters moving between Czech and Slovak plants. Wi-Fi, power outlets and a quiet-coach concept cater to business travellers, while redesigned bicycle spaces answer growing demand from leisure visitors.
![Leo Express unveils Talgo trainsets, promising faster cross-border services between Czechia and Slovakia]()
While planning those cross-border rail journeys, international passengers who may need entry papers for the Czech Republic or Slovakia can save time by arranging visas online through VisaHQ, which offers streamlined applications, document checks and express processing: https://www.visahq.com/czech-republic/ Having paperwork sorted in advance means the new Talgo ride can be enjoyed without administrative worries.
The project is co-financed by the EU’s Connecting Europe Facility; in return the operator must share real-time capacity data with the EU’s Rail Timetable Hub—information relocation teams can integrate into travel-booking tools.
Regulators in both countries have issued interim safety certificates; final authorisation is expected in April after dynamic-brake testing near Velim. Advance tickets will open four months before the inaugural run, with corporate bulk-purchase discounts of up to 15 percent.
Each 13-car set offers 350 seats, low-floor boarding and multi-system traction, enabling seamless operation on both Czech and Slovak electrification systems without locomotive changes. The trains’ passive-tilt technology will shave up to 20 minutes off the six-hour Prague–Košice journey, according to Leo Express CEO Peter Köhler.
For mobility managers the upgrade expands comfortable, carbon-light alternatives to air or road for intra-company commuters moving between Czech and Slovak plants. Wi-Fi, power outlets and a quiet-coach concept cater to business travellers, while redesigned bicycle spaces answer growing demand from leisure visitors.
While planning those cross-border rail journeys, international passengers who may need entry papers for the Czech Republic or Slovakia can save time by arranging visas online through VisaHQ, which offers streamlined applications, document checks and express processing: https://www.visahq.com/czech-republic/ Having paperwork sorted in advance means the new Talgo ride can be enjoyed without administrative worries.
The project is co-financed by the EU’s Connecting Europe Facility; in return the operator must share real-time capacity data with the EU’s Rail Timetable Hub—information relocation teams can integrate into travel-booking tools.
Regulators in both countries have issued interim safety certificates; final authorisation is expected in April after dynamic-brake testing near Velim. Advance tickets will open four months before the inaugural run, with corporate bulk-purchase discounts of up to 15 percent.
