# Budapest‑Belgrade high‑speed rail opening timeline > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/budapestbelgrade-railway-opening-delay > Updated: 2026-08-05T10:45:00.000Z. Sources: 19. Developments: 6. In mid‑July 2026 Hungarian officials said trial runs could begin in early August and passenger service might start in September, pending software fixes from the Chinese contractor. By late July the Serbian rail director announced the line was ready for service in about two months, and on 3 August Serbian Prime Minister Đuro Macut confirmed a 79‑minute Belgrade‑Subotica service using the new “Soko” train, with nine additional trainsets slated for Expo 2027 and an aim to reach Budapest within three hours. On 5 August Serbia’s Infrastructure of Serbian Railways launched an international design‑build tender to rebuild a 65 km Paraćin‑Međurovo segment of the Belgrade‑Niš high‑speed corridor. The contract, financed by the European Investment Bank and a World Bank grant, covers electrification, signaling, station upgrades and targets 200 km/h operation. Submissions are due by 2 October 2026, with a 48‑month execution period. On 6 August Serbian Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Aleksandra Sofronijević announced that the Belgrade‑Budapest high‑speed line will open to passenger traffic in the autumn, once safety, regulatory and technical conditions are satisfied. A simulated run covering the full route and border‑customs procedures is planned after 24 August, while testing of the Budapest‑Kelebia section supplied by the Chinese contractor is expected to finish within two weeks. Freight services are already operating, and both countries are finalising the passenger timetable. On 5 August Hungarian Transport and Investment Minister Dávid Vitézy joined Sofronijević in confirming that passenger trains could start later this autumn, provided final safety tests on the Hungarian side are successful. ETCS Level 2 signalling is being finalised, allowing speeds up to 160 km/h, and the Chinese supplier has confirmed the equipment is ready; large‑scale testing on the Budapest‑Kelebia segment is expected to conclude within two weeks. ## Claims - Passenger services on the Budapest–Belgrade railway could begin later this autumn if final safety tests on the Hungarian section are completed successfully. (corroborated by 8 sources) - The Chinese supplier of the ETCS equipment confirmed the system is ready and large‑scale testing began on the Budapest‑Kelebia segment. (corroborated by 7 sources) - Freight trains are already operating on the Budapest–Belgrade line. (corroborated by 6 sources) - Construction of the Hungarian infrastructure for the Budapest–Belgrade railway is completed. (corroborated by 6 sources) - The European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 2 signalling is being finalized to allow passenger trains up to 160 km/h. (corroborated by 6 sources) - A test train is scheduled to depart on 24 August for the full Budapest–Belgrade route. (corroborated by 6 sources) - The project is intended to strengthen Serbia’s European integration and improve transport links, with a possible future extension to Vienna. (corroborated by 6 sources) - A public consultation has been opened for the Budapest–Belgrade railway timetable, allowing passengers to comment before implementation. (corroborated by 2 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-05: Budapest–Belgrade railway passenger service slated for autumn launch Passenger service on the Budapest–Belgrade railway may launch this autumn after safety tests, ETCS Level 2 finalisation, and a test run on 24 August; freight already runs and a timetable consultation is open. 11 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/hungarian-transport-minister-vitzy-halts-mv-tree-cutting-in-budapests-zugl ### 2026-08-05: Serbia launches tender to build 65‑km high‑speed rail segment Paraćin‑Međurovo Serbia's railway agency opened an international design‑build tender for the 65‑km Paraćin‑Trupale‑Međurovo segment of the Belgrade‑Niš high‑speed line, funded by the EIB and WBIF, with bids due by 2 Oct 2026. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/serbia-launches-tender-to-build-65km-highspeed-rail-segment-parainmeurovo ### 2026-08-03: Serbian Prime Minister Đuro Macut Announces 79‑Minute Beograd‑Subotica Train Service Serbian PM Đuro Macut announced a 79‑minute Belgrade‑Subotica train, new “Soko” units for Expo 2027, and plans for faster links to Budapest and broader European corridors. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/serbian-prime-minister-uro-macut-announces-79minute-beogradsubotica-train-service ### 2026-07-23: Belgrade–Budapest high‑speed rail line to open in two months Serbian rail operator Srbija Voz says the Belgrade‑Budapest high‑speed line will launch in about two months, trimming travel time to three hours and extending toward Vienna. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/belgradebudapest-highspeed-rail-line-to-open-in-two-months ### 2026-07-20: Budapest-Belgrade rail link delayed by software issues Budapest‑Belgrade passenger rail, planned for 2026, is delayed due to software faults in the Chinese control system; test runs without passengers are set for August, with a possible September launch. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/budapest-belgrade-rail-link-delayed-by-software-issues ### 2026-07-17: Budapest–Belgrade railway passenger service expected later this year Passenger service on the Budapest‑Belgrade railway is slated for late summer after Chinese contractor fixes and safety tests are completed, with trials in August and possible launch in September. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/budapestbelgrade-highspeed-passenger-trains-expected-to-start-within-two-months --- Cite as: Budapest‑Belgrade high‑speed rail opening timeline. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/budapestbelgrade-railway-opening-delay