EUROPE: Leo Express unveiled the design of the three 13-car Talgo VI tilting push-pull trainsets on February 11. It is leasing the Talgo vehicles from RENFE, which is LE’s 50% stakeholder.
The 200 km/h vehicles were built in the late 1980s and refurbished in 2019-20. The low-floor trainsets have a capacity of 350 passengers. They arrived at the Velim test centre in August to undergo test runs for certification.
They are to enter service on April 30 on LE’s existing Praha – Ostrava – Žilina – Prešov route, as well as on the Praha – Pardubice – Olomouc – Otrokovice – Staré Město u Uherského Hradiště – Bratislava service, which LE plans to launch on the same date.
LE also announced its entry into the German market with a Frankfurt am Main – Leipzig – Dresden – Praha – Ostrava – Kraków – Przemyśl route from June 25.
It is also extending one pair of its existing Praha – Ostrava – Kraków services to Warszawa from March 1.
‘The introduction of the Talgo trainsets represents a new chapter in Leo Express’s development. It is not just about a new design, but about expanding our services, network and brand ambitions. We will offer new connections that other operators do not,’ Peter Köhler, CEO of Leo Express says.
