Passenger trains between Belgrade, Budapest and Vienna could return on 13 December, with direct services expected to connect the Serbian capital with both cities, according to the head of Serbia’s state railway company. The planned launch would restore passenger services between Belgrade and Budapest after a seven-year suspension caused by the modernisation of the railway line.
According to Szabad Magyar Szó, Ljubiša Pejičić, acting director-general of Srbija voz, announced the date ahead of the introduction of the new international railway timetable. While the Serbian railway operator says the necessary additional safety tests on the Hungarian section have been completed successfully, final Hungarian regulatory approval has not yet been officially confirmed.
Eight daily departures planned, including direct trains to Vienna
Under the proposed timetable, eight trains would depart from Belgrade each day. Six would travel to Budapest, while two would continue to Vienna via the Hungarian capital. The planned journey times and indicative ticket prices are:
- Belgrade–Budapest: approximately three hours, with tickets expected to cost EUR 35.
- Belgrade–Vienna: approximately six hours, with tickets expected to cost EUR 43.
The fares are provisional, as discussions between the Serbian, Hungarian and Austrian railway companies are still under way. A discounted ticket sales period is also planned after services begin.
Passengers travelling to Vienna would not need to change trains in Budapest. Hungarian railway rolling stock is expected to operate the direct Vienna services, while Chinese-built multiple-unit trains operated by the Serbian railway company would serve the route to Budapest.
Trains will be able to reach speeds of up to 200 km/h on the Serbian section and 160 km/h on the Hungarian section. Actual journey times may also depend on border checks.
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Border checks could affect journey times
Border controls will be an important factor in determining how competitive the new services are. Serbia is not part of the Schengen Area, so passengers will still need to undergo document checks when travelling between Serbia and Hungary.
According to earlier reports, the two countries have sought to reduce the time needed for border procedures to around 21 minutes. Under the Serbian plans, passengers on the first and last trains of the day would undergo checks at Belgrade’s Prokop central railway station, while checks for other services would take place at Kelebia, near the Hungarian-Serbian border.
If the planned three-hour journey to Budapest can be achieved consistently, the railway could offer an alternative to road travel, particularly when border crossings are congested.
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The Budapest–Belgrade line has already reopened to freight traffic, which began operating on 27 February. Passenger services would mark another milestone for a project whose construction was partly financed through Chinese loans and carried out with Chinese involvement.
The investment has also attracted scrutiny over transparency. In summer 2026, Vitézy said the Hungarian government would seek to lift the confidentiality restrictions covering the project, including its Chinese loan agreement. The documents had been classified for ten years under the previous government, and lifting the restrictions requires Chinese approval.