Keleti Station upgrades platforms as Chinese trains prepare to enter Budapest–Belgrade railway line

The soon-to-be-launched Budapest–Belgrade railway is not only creating a new strategic rail link between Hungary and Serbia, but is also reshaping Hungary’s railway infrastructure. As Chinese-built, low-floor electric multiple units are expected to operate on the line, one of Budapest’s key transport hubs, Keleti railway station, has entered another phase of reconstruction.

In Europe, the renovation of the Budapest–Belgrade railway line is the largest railway development project financed and implemented by China.

When will the Budapest–Belgrade railway line be operational?

On January 12, reconstruction work began on the platform between tracks 12 and 13 at Keleti railway station, marking a major step in the station’s accessibility upgrade.

According to MÁVINFORM, passenger services arriving from the Délegyháza–Kelebia–Belgrade direction will use these platforms in the future. The aim of the project is to construct an accessible high platform with a height of 55 centimetres, fully compliant with European railway standards.

The timing of the works is considered favourable. Due to ongoing track closures linked to the construction of the Southern Railway Ring, most long-distance services from western Hungary currently terminate at Kelenföld, reducing traffic at Keleti and allowing the reconstruction to proceed without major disruption.

Keleti adapts to Chinese-built rolling stock

The reconstruction has clear strategic significance. Once completed, Keleti will be capable of receiving Chinese-manufactured Soko (Falcon/Sólyom) electric multiple units, which the Serbian railway operator plans to deploy on the Budapest–Belgrade line.

Although these trains feature a low-floor design, they differ from rolling stock commonly used in Hungary in that they do not have deployable steps. This makes precise alignment between the platform height and train floor essential, necessitating the current platform modifications.

The project has also generated additional costs. Keleti railway station underwent refurbishment as recently as August, when platforms were fitted with new surfaces. It has since emerged that the upgraded platforms were not compatible with the Chinese-built trains, requiring further reconstruction.

As a result, modifying the two platforms will cost an additional HUF 300 million (approximately EUR 770,000). Hungarian authorities have stated that the issue arose because technical specifications from the Serbian side did not reach MÁV in a timely and sufficiently detailed form, making redesign unavoidable.