Thursday, July 24, 2025
Czech open-access rail firm Leo Express has applied to introduce a new international night train that would link Ostend in Belgium to Bratislava in Slovakia, running through Germany and the Czech Republic. This service is proposed to begin on 13 December 2026, in conjunction with the next Europe-wide timetable change. The new train would, if all goes as planned, offer an exclusive, long-distance transnational sleeping car link across four countries, promoting sustainable travel options and tourism and reviving the European night train network.
Route and Schedule: From the North Sea to the Danube

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The vision for the train is large and ambitious. Leaving the Belgian coastal town of Ostend daily at 19:10, the train would stop at a number of Belgian cities, including Bruges, Ghent, Brussels, Leuven, and Liège. Once on the German side of the border, it would run on to Germany at Aachen, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Dortmund, Hannover, Leipzig, and Dresden. Mileage is also only available for the Czech Republic; the largest cities to be featured there should be Praha and Pardubice, with the border to Slovakia at least reached before continuing through Kúty, Malacky, Devínska Nová Ves, and finally arriving in the Slovak capital, Bratislava, at around 14:18 local time.
On the return, the eastbound would depart from Bratislava at 14:44 and reach Ostend at about 9:52 the following morning. The trip would take nearly 19 hours in all and would likely include both seated service and sleeper cars, providing a level of comfort that accommodates all budgets. The Leo Express service would run a daily round trip and would feature first- and second-class cars—as well as couchette sleepers for overnight comfort—according to Leo Express.

A Second Try, With More Planning
This is not Leo Express’s first shot at linking Belgium with Central Europe. The operator had previously applied in 2023 for a similar route with a launch in 2025, but that plan faltered. This new endeavor seems to be, however, more mindful of planning and infrastructure matching. The company said today it has taken formal steps to notify the Belgique de Concordance Depending du Chemin de Fer (the Belgian Regulatory Body for Railway Transport), Brussels Airport Operations SA, and the Czech Office for the Protection of Economic Competition in order to comply with the applicable open-access procedures under European law.
Technical Preparedness and Strategic Support
Leo Express is also familiar with cross-border operations and runs rail services that span national networks. It operates the last generation of Stadler FLIRT dual-voltage trains that can operate in Germany, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. The desired night train, however, can use a locomotive-hauled layout more appropriate to long-distance sleeper service. And the company’s ambition is carried by a 50% stake in the company from the Spanish national rail operator RENFE, providing both financial and engineering support to Leo Express.
Competitive Landscape: Cooperation or Rivalry?
The plan for the route also follows on from the current European Sleeper service that already links Brussels and Prague. But the Leo Express strategy goes further into Central and Eastern Europe, with a new direct link to Slovakia. Analysts view the opportunity as a mix of collaboration and competition: either the platforms can work together to create a new connected service, or they can compete to make quality and service better.
Environmental Benefits and Passenger Appeal
For travelers and environmentalists, the project is presenting a lot to get excited about. A train ride that takes 19 hours may not match budget airlines in terms of speed, but it’s certainly a more eco- and scenic-friendly substitute for a flight. Providing an overnight option, it enables passengers to sleep on trains and add actual minutes and hours of leisure at the destination without flying or increasing their carbon footprint. As Europe increasingly pushes to wean itself off short-haul flights, initiatives like this are a vital part of a wider rail renaissance.
Regulatory Review and Infrastructure Challenges
Challenges remain, despite the rays of hope. The biggest challenge immediately is obtaining approval from regulators, including track access in Belgium, which is controlled by the infrastructure company Infrabel. What’s more, Leo Express has to factor in operational challenges among all four countries involved, such as regulation calendar conflicts, certification of locomotives, and contracts with access to stations. Any holdup on these fronts could delay the anticipated December 2026 launch.

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Tags: Belgium, czech Republic, Europe, germany, LEO Express, Slovakia

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