Belgrade-Budapest railway to undergo high-speed load testing

The Hungarian section of the Belgrade-Budapest railway line will undergo full-load testing on October 3 and 4. During these tests, passenger-less trains will operate at speeds of up to 160 km/h, simulating peak daytime traffic schedules to evaluate the system under maximum load.

Hungarian Minister of Transport and Investment Dávid Vitézy stated that the results of this test will determine when regular passenger service can begin. While previous inspections of the train control and management systems have not revealed any critical safety errors, minor issues were previously identified and subsequently resolved.

The primary technical challenge for resuming passenger service is the implementation of the European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 2. This system is essential for allowing trains to operate at the planned speed of 160 km/h by continuously monitoring speed and maintaining safe distances between trains. Hungarian authorities emphasized that passenger service will only commence once all technical and safety procedures are successfully completed and verified by independent experts.