Belgium’s national railway operator, NMBS / SNCB, will stop selling tickets on board its trains from 1 July 2026. The decision, NMBS / SNCB’s leadership argues, follows a sharp rise in aggression towards staff, with 2,602 incidents recorded in 2025 – an average of seven per day – up from 2,103 in 2024. Will the…
Tag: Renfe
PASSENGER PACKAGE | Why the EU’s new rail passenger package is proving so controversial
The European Commission wants to make international train travel in Europe much simpler. Its newly unveiled Passenger Package promises easier booking, stronger passenger rights and more seamless cross-border journeys. In theory, the reforms could finally bring European rail travel closer to the convenience passengers already expect from air travel.
LEO EXPRESS | Renfe deploys Talgo VI trains in Central Europe to launch new Czech-Slovak rail links
Spain‘s state-owned operator Renfe has introduced its Talgo VI rolling stock in Central Europe, enabling its subsidiary Leo Express to launch new international services between Czechia and Slovakia.
Starline reimagines European rail, but can it deliver?
A sleek, deep-blue train gliding across Europe at 400 km/h. Passengers board in Helsinki and arrive in Berlin just three hours later. Freight bypasses congested motorways. New architectural landmark stations double as concert halls and cultural hubs. Welcome to Starline—a ‘metro-style’ high-speed rail vision that aims to redraw the European map.
Leo Express now links Germany to Poland / Ukraine and ÖBB links Vienna to Trieste
Two major developments in European rail underline how international long-distance services are expanding both through new open-access routes and major infrastructure upgrades. Private operator Leo Express from Czechia is preparing its first move into the German passenger market with a trans-European service from Frankfurt to the Polish–Ukrainian border, while Austria’s ÖBB has launched a dramatically…
Leo Express and Arenaways plan direct train between Prague and Venice
The Czech railway company Leo Express, in cooperation with the Italian carrier Arenaways, is planning a new direct rail connection between Prague in Czechia and Venice in Italy.
Travellers in Europe increasingly open to choosing trains over planes for short-haul journeys
A study published in May 2025 suggests that many travellers across Europe are increasingly open to choosing trains over planes for short-haul journeys, particularly when high-speed rail alternatives are available. A study commissioned by Hitachi Rail, based on responses from over 11,000 people in Europe and North America, found that around two-thirds of Europeans support…
Spain’s Renfe sends Talgo VI rolling stock to Leo Express in Czechia and Slovakia
Private rail operator Leo Express in Czechia is advancing its ambitious expansion plans, combining the recent transfer of retired Talgo VI trains from Spain with exploratory filings for new international night services.
Leo Express: Bratislava – Ostend night train not a firm commitment
At the end of June 2025, Czech private rail operator Leo Express has submitted a filing for a potential night train service between Slovakia and Belgium, but the company has clarified that this does not represent a firm commitment. In a statement to RailTech, Leo Express spokesperson Emil Sedlařík said the filing should be seen…
Leo Express wants night train service from Slovakia to Ostend, Belgium
Leo Express, a Czech railway operator, intends to introduce a night train service between Ostend in Belgium and Bratislava in Slovakia via Germany and Czechia from mid-December 2026; Thibault Lapers reports on his Mobilithib Substack. Leo Express notified the Czech Office for the Protection of Economic Competition (Úřad pro ochranu hospodářské soutěže) of its intentions.