Hungary and Serbia have taken a major step forward in their long-running railway project as freight traffic has officially started operating on the Budapest–Belgrade rail corridor, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó announced in Belgrade.
The upgraded line, first agreed upon in 2014, is designed to become a key logistics artery linking Southeast European ports with Western Europe. According to the Hungarian government, the launch of freight operations marks the moment when Hungary and Serbia become “unavoidable” transit partners for goods moving across the region.
At the moment, ten freight trains have already applied for operational permits. But the line’s theoretical capacity is far greater: it could handle three freight trains per hour in each direction, meaning cargo trains could run roughly every twenty minutes once the system reaches full utilisation.
Passenger Trains Coming Soon
While freight traffic has begun, passenger services are expected to start in March.
Once fully operational, 16 international passenger trains will run daily between the two capitals. Four of these will extend beyond Hungary to connect Vienna and Belgrade, strengthening rail links across Central and Southeastern Europe.
Travel time between Budapest and Belgrade is expected to fall to around three hours, thanks partly to a streamlined border control system where checks will take place onboard while the train is moving.
Ticket prices are expected to start at around €26, positioning the service as a competitive alternative to both driving and flying between the two cities.
Modern Trains and Chinese Technology
Under the current arrangement, trains will be operated alternately by the Hungarian and Serbian railway companies. Hungary’s MÁV will run modern EuroCity train sets, while Serbia plans to introduce ultra-modern Chinese-built electric multiple units.
The railway itself is also part of a broader geopolitical story. The project has long been associated with China’s infrastructure investment in Europe, often linked to the Belt and Road Initiative, aimed at improving trade routes between Asia and Europe.
For Hungary, the line could reinforce its role as a logistics gateway between the Balkans and the EU’s core markets.
Beyond Transport: Energy Cooperation
During the same visit to Belgrade, Hungary and Serbia also signed agreements expanding cooperation in nuclear research and energy technology. Both countries anticipate growing electricity demand in the coming years, particularly as electrified infrastructure and industry expand.
Plans are also underway to build an additional cross-border electricity transmission line, which could double the power connection capacity between the two countries by 2030.
A Strategic Corridor in the Making
The Budapest–Belgrade railway has been debated, delayed, and closely scrutinised for years, largely due to its cost and strategic implications. Now that freight traffic has begun and passenger services are imminent, the project is finally moving from blueprint to operational reality.
If freight volumes grow as expected and passenger demand materialises, the line could significantly reshape transport flows across the region.
For travellers, the headline figure remains simple: Budapest to Belgrade in about three hours for roughly €26.
For the wider economy, however, the railway represents something much larger — a new logistics corridor linking Central Europe with the Balkans and beyond.