Serbians outraged by Hungary over Belgrade–Budapest high-speed railway

Hungary’s delays with the Belgrade–Budapest high-speed railway line are frustrating Serbia. Despite promises from the Orbán government to start passenger services in February, nothing has happened, and no one knows when passengers will be able to travel on the rebuilt line.

According to 24.hu, Serbia has been ready for some time and would allow its passengers to travel to Budapest. Training for locomotive operators began months ago, meaning even Hungarian operators are getting used to the Chinese Falcon-type locomotives.

Cargo transport began on 24 February on the Belgrade–Budapest high-speed railway line. The Orbán cabinet highlighted the development as a key achievement during the election campaign. Trains currently travel at 100 km/h on the line between the two capitals, but no one knows when passengers will be able to use the renewed railway.

Hungarian State Railways is currently conducting safety checks on the ETCS system after detecting a fault that could compromise public transport safety at 160 km/h—the maximum speed for passenger trains on the line. Serbian Transport Minister Aleksandra Sofronijević discussed this with the Serbian state broadcaster.

Interestingly, passengers can already travel at 200 km/h between Belgrade and Subotica, a town with a partly Hungarian population in Serbia’s northern Vojvodina region. In Hungary, the maximum speed will be only 160 km/h, but the necessary permissions have yet to be issued.

If you missed, here are more of our Serbia-related news:

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