Leo Express Launches €1.65B Tender for 93 Trains in Czech

PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC – Leo Express has opened a procurement procedure for new electric multiple units (EMUs) and battery electric multiple units (BEMUs) under a framework agreement valued at an estimated EUR 1.65 billion (CZK 40 billion). The tender, the operator’s largest fleet renewal programme to date, covers a firm order of 44 BEMUs and 21 EMUs, with options for a further 28 units, and bids must be submitted by 29 June 2026.

What Does This Contract Cover?

The framework agreement is divided into four regional lots, each with specific firm and optional allocations designed to replace older stock on partially electrified corridors. The firm order comprises 44 BEMUs and 21 EMUs, while each lot permits up to four additional options per type, potentially adding 16 BEMUs and 12 EMUs. Lot 1 (Olomouc) seeks 11 BEMUs plus four options; Lot 2 (Zlín) seven BEMUs plus four options; Lot 3 (Hradec Králové) 18 BEMUs and eight EMUs with the same option structure; and Lot 4 (Vysočina) eight BEMUs and 13 EMUs. BEMU specifications call for 121–151 seats, a maximum speed of 120 km/h in battery mode and 160 km/h under catenary. EMUs will seat 121–150 passengers and reach 160 km/h on 25 kV AC / 3 kV DC infrastructure. Award criteria weight price at 70%, maintenance costs at 22%, and energy consumption at 8%.

Key Contract Data

How Does This Compare to Similar Contracts?

The EUR 1.65 billion envelope positions Leo Express’s tender as one of the larger regional rolling stock procurements in Central Europe. For comparison, Czech incumbent České dráhy signed a framework agreement in 2024 with Škoda Transportation for up to 200 EMUs valued at CZK 60 billion (approximately EUR 2.4 billion), covering both national and regional services (Source: Railway Gazette International, 2024). Arriva Czech Republic’s 2023 order for five BEMUs from Stadler was worth roughly CZK 850 million (EUR 34 million). The Leo Express tender therefore sits between national-scale framework deals and smaller pilot batches, reflecting the operator’s rapid growth—passenger numbers rose 19.2% year-on-year to 4.565 million in 2025. The inclusion of BEMUs across all lots signals a strategic shift toward battery traction on partly electrified regional routes, aligning with EU-backed long-term rail investment priorities that the European Parliament reinforced in recent budget discussions (Source: Global Railway Review, 2025). The exact delivery timeline and financing structure have not been disclosed.

Editor’s Analysis

This tender cements Leo Express’s transition from a small open-access challenger to a system-relevant regional operator with a fleet order comparable to state-backed incumbents. The 70% price weighting suggests fierce competition on acquisition cost, likely drawing bids from Škoda, Stadler, Siemens, and possibly Pesa or Alstom. Coupled with new international routes to Munich and Warsaw planned for 2026, the order size implies the operator anticipates sustained annual passenger volumes exceeding six million—a plausible target given the 25% domestic growth rate in 2025. The lack of a publicly disclosed delivery window, however, leaves open the question of whether these units will arrive in time to support the service ramp-up, potentially exposing a capacity gap in the short term.

FAQ

Q: What is the difference between a BEMU and an EMU in this tender?
A: BEMUs (battery electric multiple units) can operate on non-electrified tracks using batteries at up to 120 km/h, then switch to catenary power for up to 160 km/h. EMUs are fully electric and run only on 25 kV AC or 3 kV DC overhead lines at 160 km/h.

Q: Which manufacturers are expected to bid for the Leo Express contract?
A: No official shortlist has been published. Given the technical requirements, probable bidders include Škoda Transportation, Stadler, Siemens Mobility, and Alstom, all of which have delivered or developed similar BEMU platforms for central European operators.

Q: When will the new trains enter passenger service?
A: The bid deadline is 29 June 2026, and the tender documentation does not specify a delivery or entry-into-service date. Typically, a design-build-maintenance framework of this scale could see first deliveries two to three years after contract award, but this has not been officially confirmed.