Trilex

Trilex (stylised as trilex) is a brand of Die Länderbahn GmbH, a German railway company headquartered in Viechtach, Bavaria. The brand was created in late 2010 after the Vogtlandbahn won a ten-year contract to operate cross-border services in the tri-border region of Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic. The name Trilex derives from 'Dreiländerexpress' (Three-Country Express), with the prefix 'tri-' referring to the three countries and the suffix '-lex' following the naming pattern established by the earlier 'alex' brand. The brand is part of the Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane (FS) group, Italy's state railway holding, through intermediate companies. Trilex operates regional passenger services on several lines in eastern Saxony and the Czech border regions. Its network includes the Ostsachsen (East Saxony) network, with routes such as Dresden–Bischofswerda–Bautzen–Löbau–Görlitz and Dresden–Zittau–Liberec, as well as cross-border lines in the Liberec region. The brand connects three countries and serves around 5 million passengers annually, covering approximately 3.9 million train kilometres per year. Its fleet consists of 28 Siemens Desiro Classic diesel multiple units (Class 642), which were refurbished between 2019 and 2021 with new interiors, free Wi-Fi, USB sockets and modern information systems. Five additional Desiro units are planned to join the fleet from late 2027, bringing the total to 33. Trilex is commissioned by several public transport authorities, including the Verkehrsverbund Oberelbe (VVO), Zweckverband Verkehrsverbund Oberlausitz-Niederschlesien (ZVON), Liberecký kraj, Ústecký kraj and Středočeský kraj. The brand has faced operational challenges, including capacity shortages and cancellations, particularly in the Ostsachsen network, where a lack of available trains has led to overcrowding and delays. Despite these issues, Trilex remains a key provider of cross-border regional rail services in the region.

Trilex was established in late 2010 as a brand of the then Vogtlandbahn (now Die Länderbahn GmbH), after the company secured a ten-year contract in 2009 to operate services in the tri-border region of Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic. The contract covered routes from Liberec via Zittau to Seifhennersdorf and Rybniště, awarded through a German-Czech tender by the public transport authorities Liberecký kraj, Ústecký kraj and ZVON. A branch office was opened in Hrádek nad Nisou to operate these services. The brand name 'trilex' was chosen through a naming competition in October 2010 and stands for 'Dreiländerexpress' (Three-Country Express). The prefix 'tri-' refers to the three countries, while '-lex' follows the marketing pattern of the Vogtlandbahn, which had previously created the 'alex' brand. The name reflects the three countries Germany, Czech Republic and Poland through which the trains run. Upon commencing operations, Trilex replaced the previous operators Sächsisch-Böhmische Eisenbahngesellschaft and České dráhy, introducing direct connections from Liberec to Seifhennersdorf and Rybniště, with a 60-minute interval between Liberec and Varnsdorf and a 120-minute interval between Varnsdorf and Seifhennersdorf or Rybniště. In peak hours, a 30-minute interval was offered between Liberec and Hrádek nad Nisou. In late June 2013, ZVON announced, after a joint tender with the Verkehrsverbund Oberelbe (VVO), that Vogtlandbahn was to operate the so-called Ostsachsen network on routes Dresden–Bischofswerda–Bautzen–Löbau–Görlitz and Dresden–Bischofswerda–Wilthen–Oberoderwitz–Zittau–Liberec from December 2014 for four years. The incumbent operator DB Regio Südost filed an objection with the procurement chamber in Leipzig. The chamber ordered a re-evaluation of the bids, and in October 2013 ZVON confirmed that Vogtlandbahn would be awarded the contract. In March 2014, it was announced that the Ostsachsen network would also operate under the Trilex brand, so the 'tri' now also stood for the three regions Dresdner Elbtal, Oberlausitz and the upper valley of the Lusatian Neisse. In late February 2015, VVO and ZVON announced that the direct connection from Dresden via Görlitz to Wrocław Główny would be discontinued from March 2015 due to a lack of financial resources on the Polish side. Since late February 2015, Trilex has had a lynx mascot named Luca, chosen from nearly 400 suggestions in a competition. With the timetable change on 13 December 2015, the direct connection Dresden–Görlitz–Wrocław was reinstated, with DB Regio Südost operating as a subcontractor for Trilex and KD. On 26 April 2018, it was announced that DB Regio subsidiary Verkehrsgesellschaft Start Ostsachsen was to take over operations on all routes served by Trilex from December 2019 (current line L7 from December 2020). Die Länderbahn filed an objection with the procurement chamber of Saxony. On 2 November 2018, the procurement chamber announced that the Ostsachsen network could not be awarded to Start because the company did not meet the suitability criteria. On 15 February 2019, this decision was confirmed by the Higher Regional Court of Dresden. On 1 April 2019, the four public transport authorities officially awarded the contract for the operation of Ostsachsen network II to Die Länderbahn for the period from December 2019 to December 2031. As part of this, Die Länderbahn took over the RB60V from ODEG, which would then run as line RE1V. The entire timetable concept was revised to enable faster journey times and better connections in the Oberlausitz. For this new contract, the vehicles were to undergo a redesign, including new livery and new seat cushions. Since 2016, in the summer months, one service of line RE2 from Liberec to Doksy has been extended on weekends and Czech public holidays, designated as line L24. Starting in 2021, from April to October, a weekend service on the route Liberec–Varnsdorf–Mikulášovice dolní nádraží is offered as line T2/T9. Since the timetable change in December 2021, Die Länderbahn CZ has operated under the Trilex brand on the route Rumburk–Česká Lípa–Mladá Boleslav město. In December 2022, the route Liberec–Česká Lípa–Děčín hl. n. was also added. As of February 2026, the services commissioned by the Verkehrsverbund Ostsachsen are being provided only in insufficient quality. Particularly during peak hours, trains run with insufficient capacity or are cancelled entirely. Due to overcrowding, major delays occur regularly. According to Die Länderbahn, five multiple units are missing in the Ostsachsen network due to planned workshop visits and accidents.

• 2022

  Route Liberec–Česká Lípa–Děčín hl. n. added in December.

• 2021

  Die Länderbahn CZ begins operating under Trilex brand on Rumburk–Česká Lípa–Mladá Boleslav město route.

• 2019

  Länderbahn awarded Ostsachsen network II contract from December 2019 to December 2031; fleet modernisation begins.

• 2015

  Direct connection Dresden–Görlitz–Wrocław discontinued in March, then reinstated in December; lynx mascot Luca introduced.

• 2014

  Ostsachsen network services begin under the Trilex brand in December.

• 2013

  Vogtlandbahn wins the Ostsachsen network contract after a legal challenge by DB Regio.

• 2010

  Trilex brand created in late 2010; name chosen through a competition, standing for 'Dreiländerexpress'.

• 2009

  Vogtlandbahn wins a ten-year contract to operate cross-border services in the tri-border region of Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic.

• Five additional Desiro units planned to join the fleet from late 2027, increasing total to 33.

Cross-border regional rail operator connecting Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic.

• RE1 Dresden–Görlitz

  Regional express service between Dresden and Görlitz.

• RB60 Dresden–Görlitz

  Regionalbahn service between Dresden and Görlitz.

• Trilex day ticket

  Day ticket valid for unlimited travel between Dresden, Görlitz, Zittau and Liberec, from €33.

1. 1Herzlich Willkommen | trilexlaenderbahn.com
2. 2Über uns | trilexlaenderbahn.com
3. 3Trilex (Marke) – Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
4. 4Trilex – Wikidatawikidata.org