Rail services across Serbia were suspended indefinitely early on Saturday morning, with the national railway operator providing no clear explanation for the unprecedented measure. The disruption comes just hours before a major anti-government demonstration organised by university students in Belgrade.

Nationwide rail shutdown in Serbia

Serbia’s state railway company, Srbijavoz, announced that all train operations on the country’s rail network were halted at 4:15 AM on 23 May 2026. The company stated that the suspension would remain in effect for an unspecified period but did not elaborate on the reasons behind the decision.

The shutdown has already affected international services. According to Serbian media reports, a train travelling from the Montenegrin coastal city of Bar to Belgrade was stopped in Požega, with passengers reportedly transferred to buses for the remainder of their journey to the Serbian capital.

Railway transport halted at the Hungarian-Serbian border as well

Train service has also been suspended between Röszke and Subotica, as Serbian railways have suspended passenger train service for an indefinite period starting Saturday morning, Mávinform announced on its website.

They noted that rail service is operating as usual on the Hungarian section between Szeged and Röszke. The Serbian railway company, Srbijavoz, announced early this morning that rail traffic in Serbia has been suspended indefinitely.

Serbian university students announced a large anti-government rally in central Belgrade on Saturday. Rail service has been suspended several times over the past year and a half whenever opposition protests were organised in the capital.

Protest planned in Belgrade

The rail suspension coincides with a large anti-government rally scheduled for Saturday evening in Belgrade’s Slavija Square. The protest, organised by a student-led movement, is expected to draw participants from across the country.

Demonstrators are due to gather at several locations in the capital before marching towards the square, where the main event is planned between 6 PM and 8 PM.

This is not the first time rail traffic has been interrupted ahead of opposition demonstrations. Over the past year and a half, train services have been suspended on several occasions before major protests, including incidents in March and October 2025 when authorities cited bomb threats as the reason for the closures.

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Tragedy made people take steps

The ongoing wave of protests began after the collapse of a recently renovated station canopy at Novi Sad railway station on 1 November 2024. The disaster claimed 16 lives and left another person permanently paralysed.

Most locals blamed the tragedy on corruption and negligence in state infrastructure projects. Since then, student groups have led a nationwide protest movement demanding political accountability, the resignation of President Aleksandar Vučić, and early elections.

Although parliamentary and presidential elections are officially scheduled for 2027, Vučić recently indicated that an early vote could be held between September and November this year.

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Featured image: Hegyi Zsolt vezérigazgató, MÁV-csoport/Facebook