Direct trains between Vienna and Belgrade in 2026?

[AdamWW]

The Man in Seat 61 says:

Hopefully, direct expresses from Budapest to Belgrade will start running from a date to be announced in 2026, and we are also promised a couple of direct Vienna-Belgrade trains every day. I will update this page as news comes in.

Does anyone know anything about plans for Vienna to Belgrade, i.e. who would be operating it and with what stock?

 

[Jealgu]

Mav stock I think, I remember reading that on drehscheibe.

 

[Austriantrain]

Mav stock I think, I remember reading that on drehscheibe.

Mist probably. ÖBB does not have excess stock and I doubt the Serbs have anything in good enough condition.

 

[doc7austin]

There was an article about Vienna-Budapest-Beograd a couple of months ago.
Two daily EC trains might be established with MAV-START rolling stock. The HUNGARIA Eurocity will be switched to Comfortjet, hence, the 2 rakes become available for traffic to Serbia.

 

[Frothy]

There was an article about Vienna-Budapest-Beograd a couple of months ago.
Two daily EC trains might be established with MAV-START rolling stock. The HUNGARIA Eurocity will be switched to Comfortjet, hence, the 2 rakes become available for traffic to Serbia.

Do you know where you saw that article? I know there was something in the notes of the ERTT but hadn't seen anything more.

It's crazy that Serbia has no hauled stock left - it used to pop up on a number of trains in that region which no longer run!

 

[doc7austin]

Do you know where you saw that article? I know there was something in the notes of the ERTT but hadn't seen anything more.

Though, this is not official:
EC 144 Beograd Centar 8.57, Budapest-Keleti 12.14-12.40, Wien Hbf 15.20 (MAV Eurocity)
EC 148 Beograd Centar 12.57, Budapest-Keleti 16.14-16.40, Wien Hbf 19.20 (MAV Eurocity)

EC 141 Wien Hbf 8.42, Budapest-Keleti 11.19-11.44, Beograd Centar 15.07 (MAV Eurocity)
EC 147 Wien Hbf 14.42, Budapest-Keleti 17.19-17.44, Beograd Centar 21.07 (MAV Eurocity)

Secondary source:

Drehscheibe Online Foren :: 08/01 - Auslandsforum :: [SRB][HU][AT] Fahrplan 2026 - 6x Beograd - Budapest, 2x Beograd - Wien

www.drehscheibe-online.de

 

[AdamWW]

It's crazy that Serbia has no hauled stock left - it used to pop up on a number of trains in that region which no longer run!

So just the overnight train to/from Montenegro then.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Though, this is not official:
EC 144 Beograd Centar 8.57, Budapest-Keleti 12.14-12.40, Wien Hbf 15.20 (MAV Eurocity)
EC 148 Beograd Centar 12.57, Budapest-Keleti 16.14-16.40, Wien Hbf 19.20 (MAV Eurocity)

EC 141 Wien Hbf 8.42, Budapest-Keleti 11.19-11.44, Beograd Centar 15.07 (MAV Eurocity)
EC 147 Wien Hbf 14.42, Budapest-Keleti 17.19-17.44, Beograd Centar 21.07 (MAV Eurocity)

Secondary source:

Drehscheibe Online Foren :: 08/01 - Auslandsforum :: [SRB][HU][AT] Fahrplan 2026 - 6x Beograd - Budapest, 2x Beograd - Wien

www.drehscheibe-online.de

When I travelled on the IC Avala in 2018, before the major upgrades, it left Beograd at 0735 and reached Wien Hbf at 1921 - 11h46m.
The stock was just 3-car throughout.
The new times appear to be almost half the old ones (6h23m).

 

[RailWonderer]

A trip to Budapest is on my list with a planned few nights in Serbia using this new service. Does anyone know if border checks will be carried out by stopping the train at the border? I'm sure it won't be like Eurostar and given Serbia is not in Schengen I'm assuming that's adding most of the time to the journey. Without a border stop it would be a two and a bit hour trip given the line speeds easily.

 

[doc7austin]

I assume the border checks will take place both in Kelebia (Hungary) and Subotica (Serbia). Esp. in direction Serbia->Hungary you could see Hungarian border guards entering the train right after the border marker. ETIAS system checks may also lengthen the border stop times.

 

[Frothy]

Though, this is not official:
EC 144 Beograd Centar 8.57, Budapest-Keleti 12.14-12.40, Wien Hbf 15.20 (MAV Eurocity)
EC 148 Beograd Centar 12.57, Budapest-Keleti 16.14-16.40, Wien Hbf 19.20 (MAV Eurocity)

EC 141 Wien Hbf 8.42, Budapest-Keleti 11.19-11.44, Beograd Centar 15.07 (MAV Eurocity)
EC 147 Wien Hbf 14.42, Budapest-Keleti 17.19-17.44, Beograd Centar 21.07 (MAV Eurocity)

Secondary source:

Drehscheibe Online Foren :: 08/01 - Auslandsforum :: [SRB][HU][AT] Fahrplan 2026 - 6x Beograd - Budapest, 2x Beograd - Wien

www.drehscheibe-online.de

It would be excellent if this came to pass, Vienna is already at the centre of the European rail network and this is yet another link!

Lose France, gain Serbia! Thanks for sharing the link.

 

[shane74]

With this all on the horizon, really does have the feeling that travelling by train throughout the balkans could get a lot easier in the future, what are the prospects of Belgrade -Zagreb opening any time soon and to Skopje. Also an overnight service from Germany etc could be on the cards in the future.

 

[Austriantrain]

With this all on the horizon, really does have the feeling that travelling by train throughout the balkans could get a lot easier in the future, what are the prospects of Belgrade -Zagreb opening any time soon and to Skopje. Also an overnight service from Germany etc could be on the cards in the future.

I fear that this could be a one off - Special relationship between Hungary and Serbia, etc. Etc. They both do like their inner Vladimir (and Xi).

Seriously again, obviously great for Belgrade, but don‘t hold your breath for major improvements elsewhere in the Balkans.

 

[Frothy]

I fear that this could be a one off - Special relationship between Hungary and Serbia, etc. Etc. They both do like their inner Vladimir (and Xi).

Seriously again, obviously great for Belgrade, but don‘t hold your breath for major improvements elsewhere in the Balkans.

There is progress being made on the other corridors, notably towards Preševo/Tabanovci and from Niš to Dimitrovgrad.

The Belgrade-Zagreb is stopped because of a political disagreement it seems, so that still needs to be resolved and doesn't seem to be happening. But I don't believe there are any technical reasons why that can't go ahead in future.

 

[Austriantrain]

There is progress being made on the other corridors, notably towards Preševo/Tabanovci and from Niš to Dimitrovgrad.

The Belgrade-Zagreb is stopped because of a political disagreement it seems, so that still needs to be resolved and doesn't seem to be happening. But I don't believe there are any technical reasons why that can't go ahead in future.

Oh there certainly are no technical reasons. Politics in the Balcans is a different matter though.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Oct 2025 ==

There is progress being made on the other corridors, notably towards Preševo/Tabanovci and from Niš to Dimitrovgrad.

Yes, certainly. Bulgaria could be within reach. Not optimistic on Croatia - Serbia though.

 

[Frothy]

Btw, I've noticed the Vienna-Belgrade EC trains and EC153/158 Hunyadi Budapest-Belgrade have disappeared from Vagonweb. These 3 pairs of trains were to be operated by the MÁV Classic hauled EC stock.

Vagonweb - MÁV EC 2026

 

[Austriantrain]

Btw, I've noticed the Vienna-Belgrade EC trains and EC153/158 Hunyadi Budapest-Belgrade have disappeared from Vagonweb. These 3 pairs of trains were to be operated by the MÁV Classic hauled EC stock.

Vagonweb - MÁV EC 2026

Maybe because there is no definitive start date for those services yet?

 

[Frothy]

Maybe because there is no definitive start date for those services yet?

Yes, but that didn't stop them from being added in the first place with a 'cancelled until further notice' marker. The ZRŠ-operated services remain up.

In any case it's clear we are still waiting confirmation of if and when these trains will run.

 

[Austriantrain]

Yes, but that didn't stop them from being added in the first place with a 'cancelled until further notice' marker. The ZRŠ-operated services remain up.

In any case it's clear we are still waiting confirmation of if and when these trains will run.

Apparently ÖBB confirmed just yesterday to the media that those trains will run at some point. OTOH they might be the last to find out if MAV and ZRS change plans.

 

[doc7austin]

Both the governments of Hungary and Serbia are eager to fully reopen the Budapest-Beograd Main Line asap.

I assume all sides are quite cautious to certify the new signalling system.

Though, most observers are expecting a reopening before the April 2026 elections in Hungary.

 

[Cloud Strife]

Not optimistic on Croatia - Serbia though.

The problem with this line isn't so much political disagreement as the fact that both governments generally agree that it's pointless restarting Belgrade-Zagreb services without a massive upgrade of the line. As it stands, the train is completely uncompetitive against buses, as Flixbus can do the route in around 5.5 hours while the train takes over 7. Both Croatia and Serbia are hoping for EU money to upgrade the line, but it's just not a priority for Croatia compared to the need to rebuild the Zagreb-Split/Riejka lines.

I assume the border checks will take place both in Kelebia (Hungary) and Subotica (Serbia). Esp. in direction Serbia->Hungary you could see Hungarian border guards entering the train right after the border marker. ETIAS system checks may also lengthen the border stop times.

The latest news is that Hungary wants to have joint controls onboard while the train is travelling, rather than having a lengthy stop at a border station.

I'm sure it won't be like Eurostar and given Serbia is not in Schengen I'm assuming that's adding most of the time to the journey.

Nothing is decided, but generally speaking, it will either be on-board checks or it'll be done at Kelebia when the train stops there. Having said that, it's such an important project for both governments that I'd expect them to simply carry out checks while the train is on the move.

Does anyone know anything about plans for Vienna to Belgrade, i.e. who would be operating it and with what stock?

I don't think anything has been publicly announced, but I wouldn't bet against both MAV and ŽS trains being used.