Niš–Leskovac railway to resume service after reconstruction

Regular passenger rail service is scheduled to resume on the Niš–Leskovac section of the railway on Friday, October 9, 2026, following the reconstruction and modernization of the 22.8-kilometer Niš–Brestovac stretch. The project, funded by over 44 million euros from European Union IPA funds, includes new tracks, sleepers, electrical infrastructure, and eight new bridges, including a 180-meter bridge over the South Morava river. Once operational, trains will reach speeds of up to 120 km/h, reducing travel time to approximately 59 minutes. Six pairs of regional trains are planned to operate daily.

However, the reopening follows reports of technical concerns. A functional inspection report from early September identified several deficiencies in the construction and electrical infrastructure. Issues cited include unreliable switch operation at Niš station, unfinished construction work, improper track geometry, and poor visibility at certain level crossings. The report also noted discrepancies between the designed and executed states of the infrastructure and indicated that some systems could not be fully tested during the inspection period.