Starting July 31, 2026, European rail travel marks a quiet yet monumental milestone. Private operator Leo Express is transitioning its direct international service spanning over 1,900 kilometers from Frankfurt Airport in Germany all the way to Przemyśl Główny in southeastern Poland—just miles from the Ukrainian border—to an all-rail operation. Clocking in at 19 hours and 21 minutes, it officially stands as the longest continuous regular passenger train route in the European Union.
While the service officially launched on June 25, Leo Express was required to temporarily operate replacement buses on the Polish sector due to an ongoing regulatory economic equilibrium test in Poland. With those regulatory proceedings now fully resolved, the route shifts completely to seamless rail travel along the entire corridor from July 31.
A Direct Passage into the Heart of Historic Galicia
Beyond the major European transit hubs of Frankfurt, Dresden, Prague, and Ostrava, the train crosses into Poland and enters the historic realm of Galicia (Galičyna / Galicja)—a region that once formed the northeastern crownland of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. For centuries, Western and Eastern Europe collided and merged here, creating a vibrant cultural mosaic defined by Poles, Ukrainians, and a deeply rooted Jewish population.
As the train rolls eastward from Kraków toward Przemyśl, it effectively acts as a moving window into the world of the historic shtetls—the small, predominantly Jewish market towns that formed the cultural, spiritual, and literary backbone of Yiddish-speaking Ashkenazi Jewry before World War II.
Highlighting the vision behind expanding the line, Leo Express CEO Peter Köhler stated:
“Przemyśl is another major European agglomeration that Leo Express will connect with a direct international rail service. By extending the route to Przemyśl, we are fulfilling our vision of building international railway connections. Przemyśl is a natural gateway to Ukraine and an important transport hub in eastern Poland. This new service will make travelling easier for thousands of passengers and strengthen the connection between Western and Eastern Europe.”
Station by Station: The Echoes of the Shtetls
Once the train passes through Oświęcim and the historic city of Kraków, its stop list across southern Poland reads like an index of Jewish cultural heritage and Galician history: Bochnia, Brzesko Okocim, Tarnów, Dębica, Ropczyce, Sędziszów Małopolski, Rzeszów Główny, Łańcut, Przeworsk, Jarosław, Radymno, Przemyśl Zasanie, and Przemyśl Główny.
- Tarnów: Before 1939, nearly half of Tarnów’s population was Jewish. Today, the preserved bimah of the Old Synagogue stands in the city center as a poignant monument, while the historic Jewish cemetery remains one of the largest and best-preserved in Southern Poland.
- Dębica (Dembitz): A classic Galician market town where rich Yiddish literature, folklore, and Hasidic traditions flourished alongside regional trade routes.
- Rzeszów (Reisha): Known historically in Yiddish as Reisha, this city was a major intellectual and commercial hub of Jewish Galicia, famed for its two grand 17th-century fortified synagogues (the Old Town and New Town synagogues).
- Łańcut: World-famous for the stunning Łańcut Synagogue (built in 1761), an exquisite example of Baroque interior stucco and wall paintings, preserved through centuries of geopolitical turmoil.
- Przeworsk & Jarosław: Historic trade centers along the San River, where Jewish merchants, artisans, and rabbis built vibrant communities that defined regional commerce for centuries.
- Przemyśl: The terminus of the line. Situated on the San River, Przemyśl was a grand Austro-Hungarian fortress city and a multicultural gateway where Polish, Ukrainian, and Jewish traditions intermingled. Today, it stands again as a vital bridge between Western Europe and Ukraine.
🚉 Full Route Corridor (47 Stations):
Germany: Frankfurt (Main) Süd • Offenbach (Main) Hbf • Hanau Hbf • Fulda • Eisenach Hbf • Gotha • Erfurt Hbf • Weimar • Apolda • Naumburg (Saale) Hbf • Weissenfels • Leipzig Hbf (tief) • Dresden-Neustadt • Dresden Hbf • Bad Schandau
Czech Republic: Děčín hl.n. • Ústí nad Labem • Kralupy n.Vltavou • Prague-Holešovice • Prague Main Station • Prague-Vršovice • Pardubice Main Station • Ústí nad Orlicí • Zábřeh na Moravě • Olomouc Main Station • Hranice na Moravě • Suchdol nad Odrou • Studénka • Ostrava-Svinov • Ostrava Main Station • Bohumín
Poland: Oświęcim • Krakow Główny • Krakow Płaszów • Bochnia • Brzesko Okocim • Tarnów • Dębica • Ropczyce • Sędziszów Małopolski • Rzeszów Główny • Łańcut • Przeworsk • Jarosław • Radymno • Przemyśl Zasanie • Przemyśl Główny
Timetable & Onboard Experience
The route is operated with modernized RIC express coaches designed for international service, featuring air conditioning, Wi-Fi, and power sockets. From July 31, Leo Express is introducing Economy Sleeper couchettes (offering compartments for 1 to 4 passengers, with mixed and ladies-only options), expanding the train’s total capacity by 32 berths.
Official Updated Timetable
- Eastbound (LE 235):
Frankfurt 15:03→Dresden 22:30→Prague 01:17→Ostrava 05:19→Przemyśl Główny 11:25 - Westbound (LE 232):
Przemyśl Główny 12:04→Ostrava 18:14→Prague 22:32→Dresden 01:38→Frankfurt 07:22
(Note: Due to ongoing rail infrastructure works in Germany, timetables may vary on individual days. Passengers should verify specific departure times in the reservation system.)
Fares & Booking Windows
| Class | Fares | Service Highlights |
| Economy Class | From €9.90 | Standard seating, air conditioning, Wi-Fi, power outlets. |
| Business Class | From €24.90 | Premium seating, extra legroom, onboard catering service. |
| Economy Sleeper (Couchette) | From €37.90 | 1–4 berth lie-flat compartments (mixed/ladies-only), breakfast included. |
- Booking Status: Tickets for the Polish section are currently open through August 29 (the end of the current Polish timetable cycle), with ticket sales for the subsequent period opening during August. Tickets for the Frankfurt – Bohumín / Ostrava section are already available for travel dates through December 12, 2026.
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