Leo Express has officially launched its new domestic service on the Warsaw–Kraków route, marking the company’s entry into regular commercial operations between Poland’s two largest cities.
The inaugural train departed at 7:21am on Sunday, March 1, 2026 from Warszawa Wschodnia, stopping at Warszawa Centralna, Warszawa Zachodnia, Opoczno Południe and Włoszczowa Północ before arriving at Kraków Główny. From Kraków, the service continues internationally via Ostrava, Olomouc and Pardubice to Prague.
With this launch, Leo Express strengthens the Warsaw–Kraków–Prague corridor, positioning the route as both a domestic backbone and an international connection between Poland and the Czech Republic.
Part of a Broader European Expansion
The Warsaw–Kraków rollout forms part of Leo Express’s wider European growth strategy, focused on expanding both fully commercial lines and public service contracts. The company plans additional domestic connections within Poland during the first half of 2026.
Demand has been strong from the outset, with more than 100,000 tickets already sold in Poland ahead of the launch.
The inaugural departure included a platform event attended by representatives of PKP PLK, the Centralny Port Komunikacyjny infrastructure project, and diplomatic officials from the Czech and Spanish embassies. CEO Peter Köhler traveled on the first service, which also featured a voucher presentation to the first passenger, including travel credit and a stay at the Hilton Prague Atrium.
Köhler emphasized that competitive railway markets can operate without subsidies on key routes, delivering cost efficiency and emission-free transport while maintaining attractive fares and service standards.
Schedule and Frequency
Leo Express now operates two daily services in each direction on the Warsaw–Kraków–Prague route. Departures from Warsaw are at 7:21 and 22:36, while services from Kraków run at 3:25 and 18:45.
The Kraków–Prague section will increase to up to four daily services in each direction, with higher weekend frequency. By mid-June 2026, Warsaw–Kraków services are expected to rise to four daily departures each way.
Regional Stops and New Links
Between Warsaw and Kraków, trains call at Opoczno Południe and Włoszczowa Północ. On the Prague–Kraków stretch, services also stop at Oświęcim, with selected trains serving Ratiboř, Rybnik, Tychy and Mysłowice, creating new regional connections to major Polish and Czech cities.
From April, Leo Express will introduce a connecting bus from Kraków to Lviv, Ukraine, further extending its cross-border network.
Looking ahead, the operator plans a new long-distance international route linking Przemyśl, Rzeszów, Kraków, Ostrava, Olomouc, Prague, Dresden, Leipzig, Erfurt and Frankfurt Airport, significantly expanding Central European connectivity.
The company will also introduce new Czech–Slovak services on the Prague–Pardubice–Olomouc–Bratislava route using Talgo trains featuring fully low-floor designs and upgraded passenger comfort.
Onboard Product and Services
Leo Express positions its offering around comfort and digital connectivity. Trains feature fast 5G Wi-Fi, onboard catering delivered directly to seats, and four travel classes including Premium Sleeper cabins with seats that convert into beds for overnight journeys.
Menu highlights include traditional Czech cuisine, Polish żurek, hot dogs and sushi, reinforcing the operator’s hybrid positioning between regional familiarity and international service standards.
With its entry into Poland’s busiest intercity corridor and ambitious expansion roadmap, Leo Express signals intensifying competition in Central European rail markets while deepening integration between Polish and Czech transport networks.
