Budapest-Belgrade railway has most comprehensive safety tests before launch

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Empty Sólyom trains cycled through the night on the Budapest-Belgrád railway line over the weekend, running full peak-hour schedules in the most comprehensive trial run of the corridor yet.

Seven months after passenger service was originally slated to launch in March, Hungarian authorities are pressing ahead with rigorous safety testing on the newly built route. The nighttime simulations required trains to run for hours following the planned daytime peak timetable to test traffic load management and emergency handling procedures, according to the sources.

Train Control System Performs Well but Information Systems Need Fixes

The final simulation put the line under maximum traffic loads and simulated disruption scenarios, the sources reported. While the ETCS train control system designed for speeds up to 160 kilometers per hour performed well during the tests, the sources reported that passenger information systems fell short of expectations and require fixes by the contractor.

Transportation and construction minister Dávid Vitézy stated on social media that the trial was a critical step in ensuring safety before any passengers board the trains.

Joint Evaluation by Specialists and Regulators

The evaluation of the test results is being conducted by MÁV specialists, domestic transport authorities, and the TÜV quality assurance firm, the sources reported. Vitézy emphasized that safety remains the absolute priority and passenger services will only begin once all risks are ruled out.

Political and administrative changes in Hungary following spring elections led the new administration to scrutinize the opaque Chinese-backed contracts and bilateral agreements established under the previous government, the sources reported. Vitézy noted in parliamentary remarks that the project included plans for a 200-kilometer-per-hour alignment, yet numerous at-grade crossings remain unresolved, forcing speed restrictions down to 160 kilometers per hour on certain segments.

Cross-Border Standoff Over Launch Readiness

Serbian construction, transport, and infrastructure minister Aleksandra Sofronijević stated on RTS that Serbia is prepared for passenger traffic to begin, attributing delays entirely to Hungarian safety checks on the ETCS system, the sources reported. While freight operations have been running since February, passenger services remain grounded as technical evaluations continue.

Abban hiszünk, hogy az utasokat tájékoztatni kell, nem pedig titkolózni előttük

Dávid Vitézy