On 25 March we reported that Leo Express, the Czech operator controlled by Renfe, had won the contract for the Ex36 international service linking Prague with Munich via Schwandorf.
In that piece, we stated that the operator would use the Talgo VI trainsets leased by Renfe. However, it has since been confirmed that the trains will, in fact, consist of classic RIC coaches purchased by Renfe Rolling Stock Leasing from Deutsche Bahn.
The confusion stemmed from a Leo Express press release which said: ‘Modernized Intercity coaches, made available through its strategic partnership with Renfe, with a maximum speed of 200 km per hour, air conditioning, Wi-Fi and an audiovisual system, which will be pulled by a multi-system locomotive, will be deployed on the route. ‘
At the time, only the lease of the Talgo VI trainsets had been made public, and it was not yet known that the passenger coaches acquired by Leo Express were, in fact, owned by Renfe.