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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Lifestyle
Simon Calder

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.

IN FULL

New European sleeper train planned from Belgium to Slovakia

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