Chinese innovation and finance leads to Serbian high-speed rail link

Serbia has inaugurated its new high-speed railway line connecting Belgrade with Subotica, a city on the Hungarian border, marking another milestone in the flagship Belgrade–Budapest project. 

The 342km railway, largely financed through Chinese loans and built by Chinese companies, is one of the most ambitious infrastructure undertakings in the Balkans.

The inaugural journey departed from Belgrade's newly built central train station, where passengers boarded sleek trains capable of reaching 200 kilometers per hour. The 189km stretch between the capital and Subotica is now covered in just 79 minutes, with several stops along the route.

Construction began in 2017, with the overall project valued at more than $2 billion. The first completed phase, connecting Belgrade with Novi Sad, opened in March 2022 and quickly became popular among commuters and tourists.

At the launch ceremony in Subotica, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić underlined the wider economic and social benefits he expects from the new line. 

"This will mean the continued arrival of investors who will invest in factories, in new magnificent hotels. This railway will mean that you will see many more Belgraders here in Subotica, many more people from Novi Sad in Subotica, and you will be able to travel to the capital of Serbia and the capital of Hungary much more," Vučić told the crowd.

The project also highlights extensive cooperation between Serbia and China. 

At the peak of construction, more than 4,000 Chinese and Serbian workers were involved. Deputy Chief Engineer Duan Wei of the CRIC-CCCC Joint Venture stressed the mutual benefits of the collaboration. 

"Chinese experts have learnt to adapt to European standards and familiarize themselves with European certificates. On the other hand, Serbian engineers became familiar with Chinese technical equipment and design concepts and were able to apply globalized principles in construction," he said.

Alongside the rail line, Subotica's historic railway station has been completely rebuilt. Currently undergoing finishing touches, the restored station will soon welcome passengers as the last stop before trains cross into Hungary.

Daily high-speed services are already operating between Belgrade and Subotica. But anticipation now turns to February next year, when the full international route to Budapest is scheduled to open. 

Once completed, the railway is expected to significantly shorten travel times between the Serbian and Hungarian capitals, enhancing regional connectivity and further embedding Serbia in Europe's transport map.