Magyar: Passenger Trains Between Budapest and Belgrade to Start Within One or Two Months, Transport Minister to Visit Serbia in Coming Days

Passenger rail services on the Budapest–Belgrade high-speed railway will be launched within one or two months at the latest, and Transport Minister David Vitezy will visit Serbia in the coming days to discuss the matter, Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar announced.

Speaking at a press conference on July 16, Magyar said that Minister of Transport and Investment David Vitezy would travel to Serbia in the coming days to meet with representatives of the Serbian government and discuss the harmonization of the signalling and safety systems on the Budapest–Belgrade railway, the portal dunaharasztionline.hu reported.

According to him, passenger services could begin within the next one or two months, although he once again did not provide a specific date.

The portal dunaharasztionline.hu has repeatedly reported on the reconstruction of the Hungarian section of the Budapest–Belgrade railway. As explained, the project is of particular importance for the area because it directly affects railway traffic on Line 150, which connects Dunaharaszti and several surrounding settlements in the Budapest metropolitan area.

Preparations for the project began in July 2020, while the foundation stone for the Hungarian section was ceremonially laid on October 15, 2021. Construction works began in 2022, and passenger rail services on the Budapest–Kelebia section were completely suspended on May 1, 2022.

The contractors left the construction site this spring, and the railway infrastructure has been completed. Freight traffic was launched at the end of February, but additional technical and safety requirements must be met before passenger services can begin. One of the reasons for the delay is the harmonization of the railway signalling and safety systems used in Serbia and Hungary, as well as the completion of testing of the system intended for use on Hungarian territory.

Deadlines on the Hungarian Section Delayed Several Times

Former Hungarian Minister of Construction and Transport Janos Lazar stated back in December 2025 that the railway was expected to open on February 20, 2026. It was later announced that passenger services could begin between the end of February and March 15, after which the deadline was postponed until Easter, but that target was also missed.

The modernized Hungarian section features two tracks and has been designed for speeds of up to 160 km/h. According to earlier estimates by Hungarian State Railways (MAV), travel time between Budapest and Kelebia could be reduced by 90 minutes, while several pairs of direct trains could operate daily between the two capitals. If the timeframe now mentioned by the Hungarian prime minister is met, passenger services could begin in August or September. However, the official launch date has still not been determined, dunaharasztionline.hu emphasized.

Serbian Section Overshadowed by Tragedy and Corruption Allegations

The Serbian section of the high-speed railway from Belgrade to the Hungarian border was completed in two phases. The first section, from the capital to Novi Sad, was opened to traffic in March 2022, while the Novi Sad–Subotica section entered service in October 2025.

The reconstruction of the railway was accompanied by numerous controversies, particularly after the tragedy that occurred on November 1, 2024, at the Novi Sad railway station, which had been renovated as part of the project. On that day, the canopy above the station's main entrance collapsed, killing 14 people at the scene, while two more later died from their injuries in hospital. Three legal proceedings are currently underway in connection with the canopy collapse, including an investigation by the Prosecutor's Office for Organized Crime into alleged corruption related to the high-speed railway project.

Peter Magyar

David Vitezy

Janos Lazar

Belgrade–Budapest High-Speed Railway

Construction of the Belgrade–Budapest High-Speed Railway

Launch of Passenger Services on the Belgrade–Budapest Railway

Novi Sad Railway Station

Canopy Collapse at Novi Sad Railway Station

Novi Sad Railway Station Tragedy

Novi Sad Railway Station Accident