Design for Leo Express's Talgo trains
posted on 10th Feb 2026 11:22
On 10 February 2026, Leo Express published the first images of the new visual style designed for Talgo long-distance trains. As the press release states, “the new design works with a predominant white color, strong orange accents and technologically tuned graphic elements that emphasize the dynamism, speed and international character of the carrier. The design is based on the clear structure of the individual cars, a strong presentation of the Leo Express brand and visual motifs referring to the connection of European regions and modern mobility. The LE logo and website address are also placed unconventionally on the roof of the trains.”
Peter Köhler, CEO of Leo Express, further states in the press release: “The deployment of Talgo rakes is a symbol of a new stage of development for Leo Express. It is not just a new design, but an expansion of the services provided, the scope of the network and the ambitions of the brand. We will offer new services that other operators do not offer. At the same time, the preparation of the train interiors is underway. They will offer passengers maximum comfort with significantly above-average space in both Business and Economy classes.”
According to long-declared intentions, Leo Express is to start operating in the following months:
- trains on the domestic route Kraków - Warszawa from 1 March 2026, and on the international Praha - Kraków - Warszawa route,
- bus services Kraków - Lviv with a connection to LE trains from 1 March 2026,
- new trains of Bohemia and Moravia with Bratislava in the form of Praha - Pardubice - Olomouc - Otrokovice - Staré Město u UH - Bratislava services consisting of Talgo rake, from 30 April 2026; the plan also includes the return of direct LE services from the Slovácko and Zlín regions to Praha,
- trains Praha - Ostrava - Žilina - Prešov, also consisting of Talgo and also from 30 April 2026,
- new international trains Frankfurt am Main - Leipzig - Dresden - Praha - Ostrava - Kraków - Przemyśl from 25 June 2026.
These are very ambitious plans (as usual with LE), especially in the case of those that rely on the use of Talgo non-traction multiple units, which are still not approved for operation in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Moreover, the condition of the first 6B16 rake present in the Czech republic from August 2025 is still far from the technical optimum, and the other two planned Talgos are expected to arrive from Spain in the coming weeks. Moreover it is quite difficult to assume that they would be in better condition than the first Talgo, so a lot of work will still need to be done on them. Not to mention is the need to prepare LE train drivers on Vectrons and train personnel not only for serving passengers in Talgo NMUs, but also for operating generator cars.
It is therefore quite bold to consider the use of Talgo rakes from the end of April. However, regardless of this situation, the LE press release says that "tickets for all new connections are already on sale. Thanks to the introduction of new services and the deployment of Talgo sets, Leo Express expects an increase in the number of passengers by at least 1.5 million in 2026 to a total of more than 6 million." So all that remains is to wait and see how all the described plans turn out.