New Chinese-Built High-Speed Train Unveiled in Belgrade

Belgrade, The Gulf Observer: A new Chinese-built high-speed train was unveiled in Belgrade on Friday during a ceremony attended by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. The event took place at the Zemun train station, where Vucic announced that Serbia has ordered five trains from the China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) for passenger transport along the soon-to-be-completed Serbian section of the Belgrade-Budapest railway.

President Vucic highlighted that the 180-km trip from Belgrade to Subotica, near the Serbia-Hungary border, would take just one hour and 10 minutes on these new trains. He expressed his gratitude towards the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), stating, “I especially want to thank the China Communications Construction Company, which is probably the best company that has ever done something in Serbia. That company is a miracle and it’s amazing how these people work.”

The 350-km long Belgrade-Budapest railway is being constructed by a consortium of Chinese companies, including the CCCC. Vucic detailed the timeline for the train imports from China, noting, “The last one should arrive according to the contract on December 31, 2025. We will carry out tests for the Belgrade-Subotica line already in September, and no later than December 1. If we finish the line by then, and we will, you will ride this train Belgrade-Subotica.”

The Chinese contractors have already completed the railway between the capital of Belgrade and Serbia’s second-largest city, Novi Sad, and are set to extend this railway to Subotica by December 2024. Vucic also noted that the reconstructed Belgrade-Novi Sad railway, which opened in March 2022, has revitalized Serbia’s railway transport.

“We import the best quality and most beautiful trains. I hope that we will build them soon. That would be very important for the growth of Serbia,” said Vucic. He expressed his hope that Serbia, with Chinese assistance, would soon begin building fast trains domestically.

The Belgrade-Budapest railway is one of the flagship projects for jointly building the Belt and Road initiative in Central and Eastern Europe, with cooperation among China, Hungary, and Serbia. The new train, featuring 250 seats, can reach a speed of up to 200 km per hour and includes intelligent diagnostics, maintenance, and ticket sales systems, as well as space for wheelchairs, toilets for people with reduced mobility, and storage for bicycles and bulky luggage.