Direct passenger trains between Belgrade and Budapest are scheduled to return on December 13, when the new international timetable takes effect, according to B92, which cites Serbian Railways’ Srbijavoz. The line has been out of passenger service for seven years while the track was rebuilt, and freight trains only restarted on it on February 27, 2026. Srbijavoz says there will be eight daily departures from Belgrade, six of them to Budapest and two to Vienna.
Fares have not been finalized. Reports put the Budapest ticket at around 35 euros and the Vienna ticket at 43 euros, but B92 notes both are provisional while Hungarian and Austrian operators negotiate. Daily News Hungary reports journey times of about three hours to Budapest and about six hours to Vienna, with no change of train in Budapest for the Vienna service, and says a discounted fare period is planned after launch.
Border checks are the part to watch. Serbia is outside the Schengen area, and Daily News Hungary says plans aim for roughly 21 minutes of border procedures, with passport and customs checks done jointly by officials from both countries. B92 reports two 24-hour crossings, Subotica-Kelebija and Horgos-Roszke, and says travelers entering Hungary on Serbian documents go through the EU Entry/Exit System.
There are still caveats. Daily News Hungary says final Hungarian regulatory approval had not been officially confirmed when it reported, even though Serbia says additional safety tests on the Hungarian section were completed, and one outlet described the launch as something that could happen on December 13 rather than definitely will. Ticket sales are expected soon, so anyone planning a winter Balkan trip should watch for official booking announcements before committing.
Sources: B92, Daily News Hungary
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