On February 27 local time, the first freight train departed from Ferencváros Railway Station in Budapest, the capital of Hungary, passing key stations including Soroksár and Taksony before heading toward Kelebia on the Hungary–Serbia border. This marks the official launch of freight services on the Hungarian section of the Budapest–Belgrade Railway, jointly constructed CREC and local Hungarian enterprises.
The Budapest–Belgrade Railway connects Budapest, the capital of Hungary, with Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. The Hungarian section is approximately 158.6 kilometers long and broke ground in 2022. The line adopts a mixed passenger-and-freight operation model and is designed as a double-track electrified railway with a maximum operating speed of 160 km/h.
The Budapest–Belgrade Railway is a flagship project jointly developed by China and Hungary under the Belt and Road Initiative and a landmark project of cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries. Once the entire line is completed and operational, travel time between Budapest and Belgrade will be reduced from the current eight hours to about 3.5 hours, further enhancing connectivity across Central and Eastern Europe, strengthening Hungary’s links with neighboring countries, improving travel conditions for residents along the route, and promoting regional economic and social development.
