Serbia’s President Inaugurates Rebuilt Novi Sad To Subotica Rail Line, Boosting New Connectivity To Hungary

Published on October 21, 2025

On October 3, Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić inaugurated nan recently upgraded Novi Sad – Subotica railway line, a cardinal conception of nan larger Belgrade – Budapest main line. With this milestone, trains connected nan 108 km agelong connecting Novi Sad and Subotica are now tin of reaching speeds of 200 km/h, importantly improving recreation times and boosting obstruction carrier ratio betwixt Serbia and Hungary.

Modernising Serbia’s Rail Infrastructure

The revitalisation of nan Novi Sad – Subotica obstruction statement is portion of an eager task to modernise Serbia’s obstruction network. The building activity was carried retired by China Civil Engineering and China Railway 11th Bureau, who were awarded nan statement successful 2021. The project, which officially commenced successful 2022, focused connected not only modernising nan tracks but besides enhancing nan infrastructure and operational capacity of nan route.

Key features of nan task included nan double-tracking of nan line, nan electrification of nan full stretch, and nan integration of nan ERTMS (European Rail Traffic Management System) for precocious signalling. The task besides aimed to destruct level crossings and heighten information by elevating nan tracks astatine intersections pinch roads and pedestrian paths.

Major Infrastructure Upgrades

Along pinch nan way enhancements, nan Novi Sad – Subotica statement upgrade besides progressive nan building of caller structures to support nan high-speed obstruction system. Over 120 caller structures were built, including 4 bridges, 2 viaducts totalling 2330 meters successful length, 5 tunnels, 15 underpasses, and 27 overpasses. Additionally, for nan first clip successful Serbia, 3 eco-ducts were created, each 46 meters long, allowing animals to safely transverse nan railway, an inaugural reflecting nan country’s committedness to sustainable development.

This task is besides historically important arsenic it is nan first European task to usage Chinese-developed railway exertion independently certified to meet EU’s Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSI). This technology, designed and built by China Railway, marks a cardinal measurement towards greater interoperability crossed Europe’s obstruction network, ensuring that Serbia’s obstruction strategy is future-proof and tin of gathering nan demands of modern obstruction traffic.

Improved Speeds and Travel Times

Before nan reconstruction, nan Belgrade – Novi Sad – Subotica statement only had 35 km of double track, and nan mean train velocity was 45 km/h, starring to agelong recreation times. The travel from Novi Sad to Subotica utilized to return astir 4 hours and 35 minutes, but pinch nan completion of nan upgrades, this recreation clip has been reduced to conscionable 42 minutes. The upgraded Novi Sad – Subotica statement now enables nan Belgrade – Subotica travel to beryllium completed successful 1 hr and 20 minutes, down from 2 hours and 50 minutes previously.

Future Plans and Regional Connectivity

Following this success, Serbia is pushing guardant pinch further obstruction modernisation projects. President Vučić expressed nan value of building a broad railway web crossed nan country, not conscionable focusing connected high-speed lines but besides improving location services. Ongoing negotiations are underway for nan building of nan Belgrade – Niš statement and nan Valjevo – Vrbnica route, which will widen to Montenegro.

Vučić besides highlighted nan early building of obstruction connections betwixt Pančevo, Opovo, Zrenjanin, and Kikinda, arsenic good arsenic a caller nexus betwixt Subotica and Sombor. These investments purpose to amended obstruction carrier and guarantee Serbia’s strategical position successful Europe’s obstruction network.

Conclusion

The completion of nan Novi Sad – Subotica obstruction statement upgrade is simply a awesome measurement successful modernising Serbia’s railway system. By expanding speeds to 200 km/h and reducing travel times, nan caller statement enhances nan country’s obstruction connectivity pinch Hungary and improves wide proscription efficiency. With further projects connected nan horizon, Serbia is positioning itself arsenic a cardinal subordinate successful nan European obstruction network.