Passenger trains between Budapest and Belgrade could begin running in September, in the most optimistic scenario. Before the line opens, the Chinese contractor must fix the software issues discovered in the control system, and the trains will undergo a testing phase without passengers.
The launch of passenger trains on the modernized Budapest–Belgrade line has been postponed again after tests revealed software issues in the traffic control system.
Hungarian Minister of Transport and Investment, Dávid Vitézy, announced that commercial service cannot begin until the Chinese contractor corrects the software and all safety tests are successfully completed.
“Instead of making promises about deadlines that cannot be met, we will communicate honestly and transparently about the project’s progress,” the minister said.
Test Runs Without Passengers in August
The train control system has been installed, but software deficiencies were identified during testing that must be corrected before passenger train service can be authorized.
If the modifications promised by the manufacturer are completed in the coming days or weeks, test runs without passengers could begin in the first half of August.
This phase, known as dark running, involves operating the line on a schedule similar to the commercial one, but without passengers, to test the systems, procedures, and the interaction between the infrastructure and the trains.
If the tests are completed without further issues, the first passenger services could launch in September 2026. Vitézy warned, however, that any further deficiencies discovered would cause another delay.
Several deadlines have already been missed
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar had previously stated that passenger trains could begin running within the next month or, at the latest, within two months, though he did not provide an exact date.
Minister Vitézy is set to discuss with Serbian authorities the harmonization of the signaling and safety systems used by the two countries. Completion of the certification of the facilities on the Hungarian section remains one of the necessary conditions for opening the line.
The project has already missed several deadlines. The former Hungarian Minister of Construction and Transportation, János Lázár, had initially announced the opening for February 20, 2026.
Subsequently, the launch was rescheduled for the period between late February and March 15, and then for the Easter period. None of these deadlines were met.
Freight traffic began with restrictions
Freight traffic on the Hungarian section, between Budapest-Ferencváros and Kelebia, on the border with Serbia, began on February 27.
The physical infrastructure, stations, and electrification were complete, but the control system was not fully operational and had not received all the necessary authorizations.
Traffic was operating under restrictions, and only one train per direction could be dispatched along the entire approximately 160-km section. Since the system was not fully operational, the speed was limited to 100 km/h, or 40 km/h in conditions of reduced visibility.
For international traffic, compatibility issues between the equipment used in Hungary and Serbia also persisted. Crossing the border required additional locomotive changes, and electric locomotives could not continue their journey without interruption.
Double-track line, designed for 160 km/h
The Hungarian section has been upgraded to double track and is designed for speeds of up to 160 km/h.
According to previous estimates by the state-owned railway company MÁV, the travel time between Budapest and Kelebia is expected to decrease by approximately 90 minutes. Once fully operational, several direct train pairs could run daily between the capitals of Hungary and Serbia.
The Hungarian section, approximately 166 km long, cost between EUR 2.5 and EUR 2.7 billion and was financed primarily through a loan from the Export-Import Bank of China.
Until the software issues are resolved and the systems are certified, however, the modernized infrastructure will continue to be used only for freight traffic, and the date for opening to passengers remains unconfirmed.
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