photo: Thales (https://digitalproductsuserconvention.com/news/247-hungary-relies-on-thales-to-modernise-another-110-km-of-the-railway-network)/Hungarian railway- illistrative picture
Hungary’s Minister of Innovation and Technology László Palkovics has commenced the development works for the country’s section of the Belgrade – Budapest railway, during an official visit of Serbia’s Minister of Transport Tomislav Momirovic. The construction covers the section between Soroksár, in Budapest area, and Kelebija, a village situated at the border with Serbia. The railroad line from Budapest to Belgrade will be 350 km long of which 166 km will be established in Hungary and 184 in Serbia.
To mark the outset of the project, the two representatives placed a keystone followed by a symbolic removal of an older track at the Kiskunhalas station, where the ceremonial event was organized on October 15, 2021.
In Hungary, the project involves the modernization of a 152 km single-track line and the building of its double-track covering a total track restoration of 339 km and the deployment of the ETCS Level 2 by 2025.
The line will be augmented by 13 stations of which five will be built and eight will be completely restored and will benefit from new car parking lots, pedestrian tunnels, and elevators.
“I am extremely pleased to have the opportunity to be in this place, 137 years since the first train from Serbia, from Belgrade, left for Budapest. Today, we have the best relations between the Republic of Serbia and Hungary, and they are the result of a sincere friendship between the Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orban, and the President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić,” the Serbian Minister stated.
The cooperation between the two countries “guarantees the economic, trade and traffic development” which resulted in the “construction of the most modern railway infrastructure between Budapest and Belgrade,” Momirovic explained.
“Hungary will offer the fastest transport route by connecting the Greek ports, the Far East, and Western Europe,” the Hungarian official said.
The total length of the high-speed railway route from the Belgrade Central Station to the state border with Hungary is 183.1 km. In Serbia, the project is being implemented on three subsections, including Belgrade – Stara Pazova, Stara Pazova – Novi Sad, and Novi Sad – Subotica – the state border with Hungary.