As climate change continues to affect the planet, more train services are being launched to reduce travelers’ carbon footprint. The latest new train route will be run by the Czech Republic’s rail operator, Leo Express. Reportedly the journey takes 19 hours and takes passengers through four different countries. Imagine stopping at cities like Bruges, Prague and Bratislava along the way.

New train route from Belgium to Slovakia in 2024

Leo Express plans to transport its passengers from Belgium to Slovakia, with several popular stops along the way, including Germany and the Czech Republic. The Czech public transport company submitted proposals to the Czech Ministry for Transport and Infrastructure in June 2023. According to Timeout, plans are currently under consideration by the Railway Transport regulator in Belgium right now.

Should the plans get the green light, Leo Express will then launch their new direct route connecting Ostend in Belgium with Bratislava in Slovakia, while running in both directions. Reportedly, the rail journey takes 19 hours, with trains leaving the coastal city in Belgium at 6:15 am.

5o exciting stops along the way

Meanwhile, Leo Express has planned some 50 steps along the journey at some of Europe’s most popular city break destinations. According to the Czech company, the train will enjoy stops in Bruges, Ghent, Brussels and Liège in Belgium. This will be followed by more than 20 German cities, including Aachen, Cologne, Hanover, Leipzig, and Dresden.

Once the train has run the route, it is set to arrive in Prague in the Czech Republic at 8 pm, before traveling through the night. That night it will stop at Kuty and Malacky in Slovakia and will arrive in the country’s capital, Bratislava shortly after 1 am the next day. Meanwhile, the return journey will run in reverse, making the departure and arrival timings.

Why is the route still pending approval?

Currently, the epic new train route is still awaiting approval, which includes access to Belgian infrastructure. Should the plan get the green light, the route is likely to launch at some time between late 2024 and early 2025.

As plans continue for new high-speed or sleeper train routes through Europe, it looks like Czech Republic’s Leo Express is one rail operator to watch. They are joining other operators in encouraging Europeans to take to the rails instead of flying.

In late 2023, the public transport company took over services between Bratislava and Komárno in Slovakia. That route opened on December 10, while Leo Express plans to launch 100 daily connections along that route.

Speaking of climate change, it was recently reported that France has officially banned certain short-haul domestic flights. Basically, the European nation wants to ban any flight that can be covered by rail in under two and a half hours.

Meanwhile, sleeper trains are coming back into fashion, including the iconic Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, a Belmond Train. This service is set to take passengers in luxury and style along the Italian Riviera in 2024.