Leo Express has formally notified Schienen-Control in Austria of its intention to launch two unusual new open-access rail services: a year-round Bratislava–Ostend line from December 2026, and a seasonal Venice–Heringsdorf / Kiel service beginning in summer 2026. The filings, submitted on 11 December 2025, appear in the Austrian regulator’s register of planned new commercial rail services.

Under Austrian law, operators must announce any new open-access passenger service at least 18 months before the timetable year for which capacity is requested. The Leo Express notifications concern:

• Bratislava – Ostend, via Marchegg, Vienna Main Station, Vienna Heiligenstadt, Tulln and Gmünd, starting 13 December 2026.
• Venice Santa Lucia – Seebad Heringsdorf, via Villach, Selzthal, Linz and Summerau, operating 25 June – 5 September 2026 and 15 May – 10 September 2027.
• Venice – Kiel, via the same route north of Austria, beginning 6 September 2026 and 11 September 2027.

Extraordinary routings spark widespread reactions

The sheer complexity of the proposed Bratislava in Slovakia to Ostend in Belgium service, with its circuitous path through Austria, Czechia and Germany, has triggered a wave of astonished reactions across the rail community.

Independent railway commentator Jon Worth highlighted the official mention of the Bratislava–Ostend line from the 2027 timetable, describing the plans as “one of the most ridiculous train timetables I think I have ever seen” and adding: “I can neither imagine this happening, nor would it make sense for it to happen.”

Bluesky user ‘Pooh Sticks‘ suggested that the service might be designed “for a niche market of people who want to go interrailing but don’t want to use more than one service on the entire trip.”

Norwegian rail expert Ine Harsten, as quoted by Thomas Hansen, remarked in Norwegian that the concept resembles “a game of tracks rather than serious railroading”, noting that the journey would take “nearly a full day from Bratislava to the Channel, with countless stops.”

Satire, enthusiasm, and head-scratching

Some responses played up the absurdity for comic effect.

Not That Rick Scott joked that the route should extend even further via Antwerp, Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Hamburg, Berlin, Warsaw, Kraków, Košice and Budapest so that “all other train routes in Central Europe will be obsolete”.

Simon questioned whether the extremely long path might be linked to capacity-allocation rules that favour trains that cover longer distances. Railway analyst Jon Worth responded that this is “possible”.

Others zoomed in on specific absurdities. Z-Kat raised eyebrows at the timetable’s suggestion that the train could run from České Budějovice to Veselí in five minutes—likely, they suggested, the result of misplaced optimism derived from hype around supposed ‘high-speed’ upgrades.

Progress?

Green Czech MEP Michal Berg noted that similar Leo Express plans for a connection to Belgium have repeatedly appeared since 2023 without visible progress.

Complaints about stops, speed and feasibility

Several readers pointed out the surprising density of stops along the German section.

Torsten quipped that the service appears to “truly put the ‘all’ into ‘stops at all stations’,” including a direct Prague–Düren connection that even detours to Leipzig/Halle Airport.

Seema Mehta counted “Thirteen stops in North Rhine-Westphalia?!”

Jan Schneider joked that the proposal would at last “connect Bratislava to the Eurostar.”

Others questioned the running times. Strongheld noted that Prague to Cologne in nine hours “will be more like ten with delays,” wondering how staff changes would be organised on such a long service.

Martha compared the stopping pattern to “what we used to call the milk run,” with stops every 20 to 30 minutes.

Historical context and speculation

Some commentators drew comparisons with past long-distance experiments.

Pglux, in a detailed thread, recalled SNCF’s ‘Night TGV‘ operations between 1989 and the early 2000s, describing how these services grew from occasional military-focused operations into seasonal long-distance night routes before being discontinued in the 2010s.

Others wondered about rolling stock. Martin Bertsch asked whether Leo Express planned to use Talgo IV sets. Jon Worth confirmed this had been the intention but maintained that the concept “still makes no sense,” adding: “Imagine the delays!”

No clear explanation yet

For now, the motivations behind Leo Express’s ambitious filings remain unclear. The proposals could represent genuine ambitions for a pan-European overnight network, strategic placeholder services for future capacity claims, or aspirational plans not yet backed by rolling stock or commercial feasibility.

What is certain is that the operator’s filings have captured the industry’s imagination—if not its confidence. Until Leo Express provides further details, the rail community remains divided between curiosity, scepticism and outright amusement at what some see as the most implausible timetable proposals in years.

This is one of the most ridiculous train timetables I think I have ever seenI can neither imagine this happening, nor would it make sense for it to happen!

— Jon Worth (@jonworth.eu) 2025-12-11T12:17:58.530Z

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