České dráhy to replace Leo Express on Pardubice regional rail lines

The Pardubice Region has decided that České dráhy will return to operate regional rail lines in the Orlicko-Ústí area starting at the end of 2029, replacing Leo Express. The decision follows a competitive process where České dráhy provided a significantly lower price offer for the route from Ústí nad Orlicí to Moravské Karlovy.

To modernize the service, the region plans to deploy new battery-powered trains (BEMU) on non-electrified sections. This initiative is supported by a European grant through the TRANSGov program, which covers 70 percent of the estimated 2 billion CZK investment for 11 battery units. The contract with České dráhy is intended to run for five years, from the 2029/2030 schedule through 2033/2034.

Additionally, the region has utilized legal limits regarding contract scope to extend existing agreements with České dráhy for lines between Chocen and Litomyšle, and České Třebová and Moravská Třebová, without a new tender. These extensions are set to last until 2034.