Leo Express will stop stopping in Pardubice
The private Leo Express train will actually become a Moravian express from December. Pardubice will drop out of its timetable, so the train will run between Prague and Olomouc without stopping. On the contrary, it will drive to Přerov, which is currently being bypassed by all three competitors on the Prague – Ostrava line.
The gold and black trains in Přerov will take advantage of the fact that, as complete units, they can run in both directions, for example, the rival RegioJet would have to move the locomotive to the other end of the train, which would delay it. “By adding Přerov, which is perhaps a traffic junction in the Olomouc region, we want to improve the city’s transport services and bring our high standard of travel to new customers,” said Leoš Novotný, the company’s director.
Another novelty is the diversion of one pair of trains a day via Přerov and Otrokovice to the Old Town near Uherské Hradiště. It is the southernmost city in the republic, where single-system trains can depart. Furthermore, an alternating traction system begins, for which Leo Express units are not built.
The company states that since the beginning of operation last November, it has carried over 700,000 passengers on the only line Prague – Pardubice – Olomouc – Studénka – Ostrava – Bohumín – Karviná. However, due to the tough competition, all three carriers (in addition to Leo Express, RegioJet and Czech Railways) are losing tens of millions on the Ostrava line.