When you are in no hurry and everything is going smoothly, traveling by train may be one of the best experiences. And if you are a fan of traveling long distances by this means of transportation through several countries, you have a good number of options in Europe. One of them starts on June 25, with a new train service between Poland and Germany that runs more than 1,300 kilometers, crossing the Czech Republic, and with tickets starting at 10 euros. We tell you all the details.
What you need to know. The Czech company Leo Express, 50% owned by Renfe since 2021launches this summer one of the longest direct rail connections on the continent. The route connects the Polish city of Przemyśl, just 10 kilometers from the border with Ukraine, with Frankfurt airport, in Germany, and passing through the Czech Republic. It is about 1,300 kilometers which are completed in around 18 hours.
Connections. Peter Köhler, CEO of Leo Express, account that “with this new route we are removing the iron curtains between Eastern and Western Europe, connecting important European centers and facilitating access to Ukraine.” Forty years after the fall of the Soviet bloc, rail communications between Eastern and Western Europe remain scarce. This route comes to fill that gap.
The journey, stop by stop. The train leaves Przemyśl at 13:31 and heads towards Krakow before crossing into Czech territory, where it stops in Ostrava and Prague. From there it enters Germany and stops in Dresden, Leipzig and Erfurt, before arriving in the center of Frankfurt and the city’s airport at 7:53 the next day.
The service in the opposite direction leaves the airport at 8:27 and arrives in Przemyśl after two in the morning. There will be a daily service in each direction. The operator states that on board users will have Wi-Fi, plugs to charge devices, air conditioning and beverage service.
The price. Tickets will start at 10 euros, according to inform National Geographic. And that really is the main attraction, especially for those who want to get around the center of Europe without spending a fortune. At the moment, the train will not have business class, but its incorporation is planned from 2027. Although it should be noted that the most basic proposal is already attractive for those who have some time and desire to see the landscape.
It is one of the longest in Europe Although it does not top the list, according to collect Hosteltur, the Leo Express route will become the fifth longest direct connection on the continent. Ahead are the Malmö-Innsbruck night route, with 1,720 kilometers and up to 22 hours of travel; the Optima Express service between Villach (Austria) and Edirne (Türkiye), which can exceed 32 hours of travel; the historic Polar Circle Train between Stockholm and Narvik, which will precisely stop operating in 2026; and the train that crosses Italy from south to north, from Palermo to Milan, in 1,431 kilometers.
Outside the European Union, Russia has a connection between Adler and Vorkuta that exceeds 4,000 kilometers and takes around four days of travel.
Renfe’s role in all this. The operator acquired 50% of its capital in 2021 for seven million euros, with the declared intention of expanding throughout the European railway market. This route is the most visible step so far in that strategy, but not the only one, since the company is also working on a night connection between Prague and Venice scheduled for 2027, and in March of this year it launched a service between Warsaw and Krakow with tickets from two euros.
Cover image | Leo Express
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