Leo Express sued in Slovakia over €2.5 million and seeks permission to expand in Poland

The Slovak Ministry of Transport has taken legal action against private rail operator Leo Express, demanding the repayment of almost €2.5 million that the state paid to the carrier. The ministry says the claim stems from a 2024 settlement under the public‑service contract for the Bratislava‑Komárno regional line, which Leo Express has refused to acknowledge.

Separately, Leo Express has applied to Poland’s rail regulator (UTK) for licences to run commercial passenger trains on seven domestic routes, including connections between Warsaw and Gdynia, Kraków, and Wrocław. If approved, the service would start in December 2027 and operate daily until December 2032, using Siemens Vectron locomotives and variable‑length trainsets. The move would make Leo Express the second Czech operator to attempt a larger presence in the Polish market after RegioJet’s recent withdrawal.

Both developments highlight the company’s expanding activity in Central Europe and the financial and regulatory challenges it faces.