Serbia says Budapest-Belgrade railway opening now depends only on Hungary

Serbia is prepared to begin passenger services on the Budapest-Belgrade railway line, with only Hungary now holding up its full opening, Serbian Transport Minister Aleksandra Sofronijević has said.

She stated that freight transport has already been operating on the line since 24 February, meaning the railway is partially in use, Szabad Magyar Szó reported.

However, passenger services have not yet started.

Technical issue on the Hungarian side

According to Sofronijević, the remaining obstacle is technical in nature and relates to the Hungarian side of the project.

She said the Hungarian State Railways, MÁV, is responsible for overseeing the ETCS train control system, where a fault has reportedly emerged.

The system is essential for trains operating at speeds of up to 160 km/h, ensuring safe signalling and control. The Serbian minister said the issue must be resolved before passenger traffic can begin.

Serbian trains have already operated in Hungary

Sofronijević also noted that Serbian SOKO trains have already run in Hungary and have received type approval.

She added that once all safety systems are fully operational and the required documentation is in place, the trains will also receive individual operating permits needed for regular passenger services.

Long-delayed mega-project under review

The Budapest–Belgrade railway, a flagship infrastructure project, has faced repeated delays and criticism in recent years.

Analysts have previously pointed to technical and implementation challenges in the multi-billion-forint investment, which has undergone several postponements.

While freight services are now running, passenger transport has yet to begin, leaving the line’s full operational launch still uncertain.

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