This June we headed to Slovakia for a unique weekend of enthusiast activity based in the historic city of Košice. The main event takes place on Saturday and Sunday, with two full days of mainline running behind classic Slovak diesel and electric locomotives. An optional Friday add‑on is also available on the charming Detská železnica Košice narrow‑gauge railway.
We are delighted to be working with our Slovak operating partners, Detská železnica Košice, to deliver this special weekend. Their support allows us to access locomotives and routes not normally available for passenger use, and they will also provide catering on the mainline trains.
Friday – Narrow Gauge visit
Our private charter train is planned to operate with all four serviceable T211 diesel locomotives. These were formerly standard gauge Class 701 shunting locomotives.
Saturday & Sunday – Mainline Charter Trains
Our train will be hauled by a selection of classic Slovak traction from Železničná spoločnosť Cargo Slovakia (ZSSK Cargo):
None of these locomotives are regularly used on passenger trains today, and we are working closely with our train providers to source locomotives without silencers, as well as examples that have not previously worked charter trains.
All locomotives (across the three-day event) are subject to operational requirements and locomotive availability.
Due to reduced locomotive availability and other operational requirements, it is sadly no longer possible for a Class 770 to take part on Saturday 27 June 2026. The intention was always for a ZSSK Cargo locomotive to feature; however, only two operational locomotives remain available, and DŽK’s locomotive (770.092) is also unavailable as it is required elsewhere. As a result, the Class 770 will be replaced by a fourth Class 751/752 locomotive — two operating on Saturday and two different locomotives on Sunday. We appreciate that this may cause some disappointment, and we hope that the addition of another Class 751/752 will be a welcome substitute.
Friday 26 June 2026
The event will start at Čermeľ station at 1400 hours.
All available diesel locomotives will haul the train, which will cover the entire railway for at least one round trip, with the second round trip operating as far as Vpred.
The event is expected to finish at 1730 hours.
The snack buffet will be open from 1300 serving draught beer and light refreshments. The ticket office will also be open allowing the purchase of souvenirs.
Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th June 2026 – Mainline Charter Trains
The platform number will not be known until the day of travel. Information may not be displayed on the station boards, so we suggest waiting in the station lobby 20–30 minutes before departure if you wish, where passengers can then be walked to the train. The train is expected to arrive into Košice 20–45 minutes before departure. Please allow yourselves plenty of time to reach the station, locate your coach, and settle into your seats.
Saturday 27 June 2026
Our special train is expected to depart from Košice at 0820 hours and operate with the following locomotives over the following routes:
Class 751 or 752 #1: Košice – Prešov – Kapušany pri Prešove – Bardejov
Class 751 or 752 #2: Bardejov – Kapušany pri Prešove
Class 751 or 752 #1: Kapušany pri Prešove – Vranov nad Topl’ou – Sečovce – Trebišov – Stanča – Michaľany
Class 751 or 752 #2: Michaľany – Kuzmice – Košice
We expect to arrive at Košice at 1555 hours.
Sunday 28 June 2026
Our special train is expected to depart from Košice at 0820 hours, operating as follows:
Class 751 or 752 #3: Košice – Prešov – Plaveč
Class 751 or 752 #4: Plaveč – Čirč – Muszyna (Poland)
Class 751 or 752 #3: Muszyna – Čirč – Stará Ľubovňa – Studený Potok
Class 751 or 752 #4: Studený Potok – Tatranská Lomnica
Class 751 or 752 #3: Tatranská Lomnica – Poprad-Tatry
Class 183: Poprad-Tatry – Margecany – Košice
We expect to arrive at Košice at 1640 hours.
UPDATE - Sunday 28th June 2026
Due to overrunning engineering works between Studený Potok and Poprad‑Tatry, we are unfortunately unable to operate the full planned itinerary on Sunday. After departing Tatranská Lomnica, we will reverse again at Studený Potok and return to Košice via Plaveč. This issue only came to light immediately after Friday’s event, and we have been working closely with our partners at Košice Detská Železnica to find the best possible alternative. While we are still waiting for an updated schedule, we currently expect that retracing our steps will add approximately 90 minutes to the day. We are aware that this may affect onward travel plans, so we have prepared the following amended plan:
As soon as we receive the updated timetable, we will share it with you — this may be while on the train Saturday.
We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this causes. Unfortunately, this situation is entirely outside of our control.
Now for some good newsPlans for Saturday remain unchanged until our arrival back into Košice at 15:58. After this, an additional locomotive will be added to the train to haul us to the depot for a short depot visit, before returning to Košice with the Class 751/752 on the correct end of the train. The additional locomotive is expected to be T334 0871. We do not yet have the timings for this section, but these will be shared with you as soon as possible. You are all very welcome to remain on the train for this part of the day.
The mainline trains will be formed of traditional compartment coaches. We have asked that all coaches will have opening windows. Seating will be allocated, with a maximum of six per compartment.
For the narrow gauge visit on Friday, seating will not be allocated.
Where operationally possible, we’ll include photo stops at interesting or unusual locations—giving you the chance to capture the train and its surroundings.
If you would like to be in our seminar photo, we plan to take one at Bardejov on Saturday the 27th June 2026.
If you take any photos during the tour that you’d like to share with us for our website gallery or social media pages, please feel free to email them to info@europeanrailtours.co.uk — we would love to see them.
The mainline trains will also include a restaurant coach, serving:
This will be provided by Detská železnica Košice.
For purchasing food and drink on the mainline tour, cash and card will be accepted, however, due to potential mobile-signal issues with the card reader it may not work at all times, so cash would be the preferred option.
We gratefully acknowledge Stewart Wells for his work in developing the concept, facilitating the partnership that underpins this weekend and working with our partners to ensure that we deliver a weekend to remember.
All photos on this page are courtesy of Stewart.
Travelling to Košice Children's railway:
Please give yourself enough time on the Friday to travel to the Košice Children's railway, Čermeľ. We recommend arriving for at least 1400.
The snack buffet bar at Čermeľ will be open from 1300, should you wish to arrive early and enjoy a snack or refreshments before the charter. Draft beer will be available, and payment can be made by card or cash
Below is a link to the Košice Children's railway on google maps. Here you can add the date, time and a start location from where you are travelling and preference for walking, driving or public transport.
Walking from Košice train station is approximately 1 hour 6 mins. The easiest way would be to use an uber or taxi approximately 8 mins from Košice train station.