The historic railway line connecting Belgrade, Serbia, and Budapest, Hungary, has reopened following extensive modernization efforts. The approximately 220-mile section, a key part of the former Orient Express route, had been closed since 2019 to allow for track upgrades aimed at supporting faster, more efficient travel between the two capitals.
On the Serbian side, new high-speed Soko trains now operate, capable of reaching speeds of up to 125 mph. When the full upgrades on both sides are completed, the journey between Belgrade and Budapest is expected to take as little as 3 hours and 17 minutes. Currently, passengers must transfer at Subotica in Serbia and Szeged in Hungary, with the fastest available trip requiring about 6 hours and 9 minutes without stops.
The renewed service begins at Belgrade Central station and passes through diverse landscapes, including the plains of northern Serbia and alongside the Danube River. Stops include smaller towns such as Stara Pazova, Indija, and Subotica, where passengers can experience a blend of cultural landmarks, including notable city architecture and historic religious sites like a cathedral, synagogue, and mosque.
Subotica also serves as a border town where passengers currently change trains for the Hungarian leg of the journey. The crossing at Roszke involves biometric passport controls with fingerprint and facial scans carried out by border officials. Passengers on both sides of the border, including Hungarian nationals, are subject to these new entry and exit system procedures.
The train ride through Hungary’s southern region features a more traditional, slower pace, passing through agricultural fields, woodlands, and bodies of water before arriving in Szeged. This station, notable for its historic ticket hall decorated with art nouveau chandeliers and a small railway museum, marks another transfer point en route to Budapest.
Belgrade’s modernization efforts reflect a significant investment in rail infrastructure aimed at revitalizing this historically important corridor. The upgrades follow a tragic incident in nearby Novi Sad, where a station canopy collapse in 2024 resulted in 16 fatalities and raised concerns over safety oversight and political accountability.
The final stretch into Budapest concludes at Nyugati station, a historic stop dating back to 1877, which once welcomed figures such as Emperor Franz Joseph and the novelist Agatha Christie on the famed Orient Express. The reopening of this line marks a renewed connection between Serbia and Hungary, reestablishing a vital link in Central Europe's rail network and promising faster, more convenient travel across the region.