New European sleeper train planned from Belgium to Slovakia
New 750-mile train route could connect Belgium, Germany and Slovakia
- Leo Express, a Czech-based rail operator, has filed plans for a new overnight sleeper train service connecting Ostend, Belgium, with Bratislava, Slovakia, potentially starting in December 2026.
- The proposed 750-mile route would take around 19 hours, include 50 stops, and serve major cities such as Brussels, Cologne, Dresden, and Prague.
- The service aims to offer refurbished carriages with seats, couchettes, and beds for up to 450 passengers, providing a connection for UK travellers via Eurostar from London to Brussels.
- Rail experts express significant doubts about the project's feasibility, citing challenges in securing train paths, high operational costs, logistical complexities, and intense competition from budget airlines.
- Despite the initial filing, Leo Express later clarified that these plans "do not represent concrete plans," casting uncertainty over the service's future.