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.

您现在可以阅读匈牙利新闻的中文版本 – You can now read the Chinese version of Hungarian news.

Budapest–Belgrade railway line: track ready, testing underway

The Hungarian section of the Budapest–Belgrade railway, financed primarily by a Chinese loan (85%), has been completed and is currently undergoing testing as of early 2026. The line has been upgraded to double track and designed for speeds of up to 160 km/h, representing one of the most significant rail modernisation projects in Hungary in decades.

The full line is approximately 350 kilometres long, with the Hungarian section (166 km) running between Budapest and Kelebia. Parts of the project were implemented with European Union co-financing, while the Serbian section of the line officially opened in October 2025, following delays linked to the Novi Sad (Újvidék) station tragedy.

With construction works completed, the Hungarian section is currently undergoing test operations. According to János Lázár, regular scheduled services are expected to begin on February 27, provided final technical and safety approvals are granted.

Read also: Long-awaited airport rail link project finally kicks off: Fast track from the capital to Budapest Airport!

Extensive technical works at Keleti

The platform between tracks 12 and 13 is approximately 300 metres long and 6 metres wide, with reconstruction affecting nearly 1,800 square metres. The works include:

• raising 34 utility and cable shafts,
• installing 500 square metres of new tactile paving on platforms and connecting walkways,
• carrying out structural preservation work on platform canopy columns to prevent corrosion,
• and performing track and switch regulation along adjacent rails.

Demolition works are expected to continue until the end of January, while construction is scheduled to finish by the end of February, aligning with the planned launch of regular passenger services on the Budapest–Belgrade route.

Passengers are advised to follow timetable updates via the MÁV+ mobile application and the MAVPlusz.hu website.

As we wrote earlier, Hungary to expand rail fleet with 70 new Chinese trains, major infrastructure projects planned