Train service disrupted from
February 2019 until 2025...
On the line from Budapest to Belgrade, speeds have been slow and journey times long for many years, even though the route is almost dead straight and the terrain flat. Work is in hand to raise line speed to 200 km/h with a journey time of 3½ hours. In 2022, the Novi Sad to Belgrade section has been completed with new 200 km/h trains introduced. The other sections will follow between now and 2025. Normal direct Budapest-Belgrade train service is suspended at the moment.
What's running on this route?
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In 2023, trains are running Budapest-Szeged. No trains Szeged-Kelebia-Subotica-Novi Sad, there have been replacement bus serviced but these have been discontinued. Then new fast double-deck trains are running from Novi Sad to Belgrade.
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You can try using the Hungarian Railways site www.mavcsoport.hu for Budapest to Kelebia and Serbian Railways w3.srbvoz.rs/redvoznje for Kelebia to Subotica, Subotica to Novi Sad, and Novi Sad to Beograd Centar. But you won't find any services on some sections.
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You may wish to avoid this route until works are completed.
Can you avoid the Budapest-Belgrade route?
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From Vienna or any point west of Vienna, consider going via Zagreb instead of Budapest. Zagreb to Belgrade is unaffected (but currently suspended post-pandemic).
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From Budapest, consider going Budapest to Zagreb, then using the daytime train from Zagreb to Belgrade (but still suspended post-pandemic).