Track upgrading 2019-2026, direct trains cancelled
The 350 km (220 mile) railway from Budapest to Belgrade is largely straight over flat terrain, but speeds were slow and journey times long. Major reconstruction started in 2019 which will raise line speed to 200 km/h and cut journey time to 2h40 by (we hope) 2026. Direct Budapest-Belgrade express trains have not run since 2019.
A joint Hungarian/Serbian local service started a few years ago between Szeged and Subotica, making a Budapest-Belgrade train journey possible if you used a round-about rural route from Subotica to Novi Sad, from where modern fast trains run to Belgrade. It was due to get much easier from 8 December 2024 when part of the line was supposed to reopen offering fast direct fast Subotica-Belgrade trains. However, following an accident (the collapse of a platform canopy at Novi Sad), the new service has been postponed indefinitely. It was rumoured that it would start in March 2025, but March has come and gone. Meanwhile, the slow-but-doable round-about service has disintegrated. It's a shambles.
Current situation in mid-2025
There are reliable trains between Budapest Nyugati & Szeged, and between Szeged & Subotica just inside Serbia. However, services between Subotica & Novi Sad are a shambles, often terminating short of Novi Sad with or without a replacement bus service. Once at Novi Sad, fast SOKOL trains run to Belgrade Centar. It's barely practical unless you are really determined. Best to wait until the new service starts, as shown below...
From a date to be announced
The rebuilt Subotica-Belgrade main line should have reopened on 8 December 2024, and direct 200 km/h air-conditioned SOKOL trains should have started running between Subotica & Belgrade. However, this didn't happen due to a serious accident at Novi Sad involving the collapse of a platform canopy. As yet the Serbians have given no alternative start date.
When it does finally happen, you'll be able to travel between Budapest & Belgrade on the direct route again with just 2 changes at Szeged & Subotica, as shown below. Then when the Hungarians finish upgrading their part of the line, direct Budapest-Belgrade trains should resume in 2026.
The timetable below is subject to confirmation, start date not yet announced.
Read downwards, each column is a departure you can take. You change trains at each dark grey bar.
How much does it cost?
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Budapest-Belgrade starts at €22 in 2nd class.
This is a limited availability fare booked online in advance, the price varies.
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If you split the booking:
Budapest-Szeged starts at €6 in 2nd class, €8.50 in 1st class or €16 in Premium 1st class, booked in advance.
Szeged-Subotica costs €5, standard 2nd class price.
Subotica-Beograd will cost around €12, exact price to be confirmed.
How to buy tickets
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Buy tickets from Budapest to Belgrade (or vice versa) at the Hungarian Railways website jegy.mav.hu, see my tips for using it.
This gets you a through ticket, but you may not be able to book 1st class this way, or premium 1st on the Hungarian train.
Another way to buy tickets
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Step 0, first run a Budapest-Subotica enquiry to check train times. Note down each train you want.
I then suggest splitting the booking into Budapest-Szeged and Szeged-Subotica. This makes it significantly cheaper and you can select 1st class (or Premium 1st) on the Budapest-Szeged train if you want, with an option to select your seat from a seat map.
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Step 1, buy a ticket from Budapest to Szeged (or vice versa) at the Hungarian Railways website jegy.mav.hu, see my tips for using it.
You'll see each train listed twice. The first is the Intercity (IC) with 1st & 2nd class, air-conditioned with reserved seats. The second is the cheaper older Gyorsvonat (Gy) carriages attached to the same train with no air-con, reservations, power outlets or WiFi. Select the first one!
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Step 2, buy a ticket from Budapest to Subotica (or vice versa) at the Hungarian Railways website jegy.mav.hu.
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Step 3, buy a ticket from Subotica to Belgrade (or vice versa) at the Serbian Railways website webapi1.srbvoz.rs/ekarta/. It's only available in Serbian, but easy enough with a little help from Google Translate.
Interrail & Eurail passes
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Interrail & Eurail passes cover all these trains. A seat reservation is required between Budapest & Szeged, make this at the station in Budapest or Szeged or using jegy.mav.hu, as explained here. A seat reservation is required for 200 km/h SOKO trains between Subotica & Belgrade, around €1, this cannot be done online, make it at the station when you reach Serbia.
Route map
What's the journey like?
Step 1, Budapest to Szeged by Intercity train
These comfortable Hungarian Intercity trains have air-conditioned 1st & 2nd class, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Seat reservation is compulsory and included with your ticket. There are one or two 2nd class Intercity cars with seats in an open saloon and one first class Intercity car with a cafe-bar counter.
Built in 2021, the first class car has a small 15-seat 1st class open saloon, two 6-seat 1st class compartments and two spacious Premium 1st compartments each with 4 electrically-reclining leather seats. A higher fare is payable for Premium 1st, shown as 1+, this includes a complimentary cup of tea/coffee from the cafe counter.
You can check the train formation, car numbers & seat maps at www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English, click Train formations, then look for Hungary & click IC.
You can select your seat from a seat map if you book this train at jegy.mav.hu, separately from the Szeged-Subotica train.
A number of older non-Intercity cars are attached, these are classified Gyorsvonat (Hungarian for express) and listed on the MAV website as a separate train. They have no reserved seats, no air-con, no WiFi or power outlets and more basic interiors. Stick with the Intercity cars!
A Budapest to Szeged Intercity train at Budapest Nyugati. The yellow stripe indicates the 1st class car. Photos courtesy of Josef Blazej.
Step 2, Szeged to Subotica by local train
This is an air-conditioned diesel train, 2nd class only, there's a toilet but no catering so bring your own food & drink. Hungarian and then Serbian border guards come on board during the journey to check passports.
The 08:58 & 17:58 from Szeged and the 13:37 from Subotica are a Serbian diesel train like this, seen at Szeged. Photos courtesy of Josef Blazej.
The 14:58 from Szeged and 07:37/16:37 from Subotica are a Hungarian diesel train like this. Photos courtesy of Stephen Gallagher.
Step 3, Subotica to Belgrade by SOKO train
From 8 December 2024, you take a swish 200 km/h double-deck SOKO train from Subotica to Belgrade Centar. Built by Swiss firm Stadler, these modern air-conditioned trains have 1st & 2nd class with refreshments, toilets, power outlets at all seats & free WiFi. Soko is Serbian for falcon, hence the logo!
A 200 km/h double-deck SOKO train at Belgrade Centar. Courtesy of Hugo van Vondelen.
Until the new service starts, you can travel from Subotica to Novi Sad on another Serbian local train like the Szeged-Subotica one, 2nd class only with toilet. It takes the rural route through Sombor, Bogojevo & Gajdobra, avoiding the still-closed main line. Then you take a 200 km/h double-deck SOKO train from Novi Sad to Belgrade Centar. Photo courtesy of @AndyBTravels, DiscoverByRail.com.