Budapest-Belgrade rail link delayed by software issues

The high‑speed passenger train connection between Budapest and Belgrade is slated to start service in 2026, but recent tests uncovered software defects in the Chinese‑built traffic‑control system. Hungarian Transport Minister Dávid Vitézy said the line cannot open for passengers until the contractor corrects the software and all safety certifications are completed. Test runs without passengers ("dark running") are expected in August, after which commercial service could begin as early as September, provided no further problems arise.

The original schedule envisioned two to three EuroCity trains per day, with express services saving about 15 minutes on a roughly three‑and‑a‑half hour journey. Border checks will be coordinated between Serbian and Hungarian authorities, with Hungarian officials planning in‑train checks on their territory. Repeated deadline shifts have already pushed the opening back from an initial February 2026 target.