Budapest-Belgrade travel time to drop to 3.5 hours as rail tests finally begin in Hungary
The construction of the Hungarian section of the Budapest-Belgrade railway has entered its final phase, as test operations – known as “dark testing” – officially began this week. The milestone was announced by Zsolt Hegyi, CEO of the MÁV Group, who emphasised that the project represents Hungary’s most significant railway development in decades.
A completely rebuilt main line
According to Hegyi, the project has resulted in a fully renewed 160-kilometre, double-track main line capable of accommodating speeds of up to 160 km/h. The old infrastructure was “practically demolished and replaced with a brand-new railway”, including new tracks, overhead lines, and refurbished buildings.
The ongoing test period aims to verify that the freshly completed line performs exactly as planned, Hungarian News Agency MTI writes. During the dark mode phase, two locomotives run under real-life conditions to examine whether the tracks are fully navigable and all systems operate reliably.
Passengers travelling between the two capitals can expect dramatically improved journey times once the line opens: the current eight-hour trip between Budapest and Belgrade will be reduced to around three and a half hours. Reaching Kiskunhalas will take approximately 75 minutes, while the journey to the Kelebia border crossing will take about 90 minutes.
International connectivity and regional benefits
The Budapest-Belgrade railway is intended to strengthen Hungary’s role in European transport corridors by improving both passenger and freight links between Central Europe and the Balkans. As Hegyi noted, the project boosts international railway connections, enhances the domestic network, and offers new opportunities for commuters in the Budapest agglomeration.
With the revitalisation of the 150 line, residents in areas such as Soroksár and Dömsöd can expect faster and more reliable access to the capital.
Cost, financing, and broader context
First announced in 2014, the Budapest–Belgrade upgrade has also gained international attention for its strategic ties to China’s Belt and Road Initiative. The Hungarian section, stretching roughly 166 kilometres, is being constructed at a cost exceeding HUF 800–850 billion (EUR 2.1–2.25 billion), funded predominantly through Chinese loans covering 85% of the project.
The project has also sparked comparisons with Serbia, where construction costs were reportedly lower per kilometre and where the new railway directly links major cities, including Belgrade, Novi Sad and Subotica, 444.hu writes. In Hungary, the line bypasses larger towns, meaning only moderate domestic passenger traffic is expected despite the significantly reduced international travel time.
Completion expected early next year
Rail traffic on the full Serbian section has already been operational since early October, with the Novi Sad–Belgrade stretch in use since March 2022, where trains cover the distance in just 36 minutes, according to HVG.
Hungary plans to follow suit soon. According to Minister for Construction and Transport János Lázár, the government aims to inaugurate the Hungarian section on 20 February.
According to Google it is 3hr 53min by car and you can go by your own schedule. Orban has spent more than 2 billion euros for a railway line that does not provide service to any Hungarian cities outside of Budapest. It’s main purpose is to facilitate the transport of Chinese goods from Piraeus Greece to western Europe and Hungarians are paying for it.