Serbian President Vucic takes a trial ride on the Nosu section of the Hungary-Serbia railway
On October 3, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, accompanied by his wife and several dignitaries, embarked on a test ride of the Hungary-Serbia railway’s high-speed segment, traveling from Novi Sad to Subotica. Among those present were Li Ming, the Chinese Ambassador to Serbia, Goran Vesić, Serbia’s Minister of Construction, Transport, and Infrastructure, Igor Mirović, the Governor of Vojvodina, and Miloš Vučević, the Mayor of Novi Sad.
The journey began with President Vučić traveling from Belgrade, the capital, to Novi Sad, the country’s second-largest city. From there, he boarded a test train that can reach speeds of up to 200 kilometers per hour, heading towards the border city of Subotica. During his trip, he took the opportunity to inspect the nearly completed Subotica station.
President Vučić announced that the Novi Sad to Subotica segment of the Hungary-Serbia railway is expected to be operational by the end of this year, which is a year ahead of the initial schedule. Once it opens, the travel time from Belgrade to Subotica will be reduced to just 1 hour and 10 minutes. He noted that when the entire Hungarian section of the railway is finished, passengers will be able to travel from Belgrade to Budapest in a mere two and a half hours. Vučić emphasized that this railway construction represents a significant transformation in Serbia’s development landscape, and he expressed hope for ongoing support and expertise from China for future railway projects.
Ambassador Li highlighted that the Hungary-Serbia railway stands as a flagship project under the strategic partnership between the two nations’ leaders, reflecting the strong friendship between China and Serbia. This project has been pivotal in enhancing Serbia’s connectivity and fostering economic growth.
Since its opening in March 2022, the railway segment connecting Belgrade to Novi Sad has carried over 9 million passengers, with a travel time of only 36 minutes, greatly enhancing local mobility. The upcoming opening of the Novi Sad to Subotica segment will finalize the railway’s connectivity within Serbia.
