Serbia - General Information: Difference between revisions

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===National Railway Operator===
===National Railway Operator===
[http://www.zeleznicesrbije.com/ Železnice Serbije] (ŽS)
[https://serbianrailways.com/ Železnice Serbije] (ŽS - Железнице Србије). ŽS was divided into four subsidiaries in July 2015: ŽS Infrastructure, [https://srbijavoz.rs Srbija Voz] (passenger operations), Srbija Kargo and ŽS Holding.


===Infrastructure Authority===
===Infrastructure Authority===
There is no separate Infrastructure Authority in Serbia.
[https://infrazs.rs/ Infrastruktura železnice Srbije]


==Language==
==Language==
Line 21: Line 21:
==Timetable==
==Timetable==
===Journey Planner===
===Journey Planner===
The [http://w3.srbrail.rs/ZSRedVoznje/en ŽS website Timetable page] offers two useful search options:
[https://w3.srbvoz.rs/redvoznje Srbija Voz] offers several useful search options:
* '''Direct Trains''' - display all trains between two specific stations on the ŽS network
* '''Direct Trains''' - display all trains between two specific stations on the ŽS network
* '''Station Timetable''' - display train departure or arrival lists for each ŽS station
* '''Station Timetable''' - display train departure or arrival lists for each ŽS station
* '''BG:Voz Timetable''' - displays a PDF of the suburban train services around Beograd, though only in Serbian. Note these services also show up in the other journey planner options.


===Downloadable Timetable===
===Downloadable Timetable===
None known.
[https://www.srbvoz.rs/en/timetable-kurir/ Timetable – “Kurir”] offers a list of timetable PDF files to download, by individual route. International services are listed in their own PDF file. '''NOTE''' though the page heading implies these are the timetables from 2024/2025, as at 26 December 2024 they appear to still be from a previous year. For actual 2024/2025 timetable PDFs, refer to the Serbian language page at [https://www.srbvoz.rs/red-voznje-kurir/ Ред вожње – Курир / Red Vožnje – Kurir].


===Printed Timetable===
===Printed Timetable===
Line 32: Line 33:


===Engineering Information===
===Engineering Information===
None known.
Engineering information and other timetable changes are listed under "Timetable Notes" on the main [https://www.srbvoz.rs/en/timetable/ Journey Planner page], though only in Serbian.
 
===Bus information===
Multiple operators country wide, and a regular ERG Contributor in 2025 recommended [https://www.polazak.com/ the Polazak website] as a starting point.
 
==Network Statement==
 
All recent network statements can be found at the [https://infrazs.rs/pristup-infrastrukturi/izjava-o-mrezi-2016/ Network Statement page].


==Maps==
==Maps==
===Printed Maps===
===Printed Maps===
*European Railway Atlas: Scandinavia and Eastern Europe by M.G. Ball (1993) (ISBN 0-7110-2072-4)
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-E | European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition)]] by M.G. Ball.
*[http://www.europeanrailwayatlas.com/index.html European Railway Atlas] by M.G. Ball (2008 onwards)
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-R-3 | European Railway Atlas (Regional Series: Book 3)]] by M.G. Ball.
*[[Printed Maps#ES-RS-XK-ME | Mapa Kolejowa Serbii, Kosowa, Czarnogóry]] (Serbia, Kosovo and Montenegro) by W. Kolondra.
 
===Web-based Maps===
===Web-based Maps===
*Thorsten Büker's [http://www.bueker.net/trainspotting/maps_serbia---montenegro.php Map of Serbia and Montenegro].
*[[:File:Serbia_Montenegro.gif | Map of Serbia and Montenegro]] dated December 2020.
*[http://212.62.59.16/red_voznje1/mreza_pruga.jpg This diagram] is available on the ŽS website and still shows Kosovo as part of the ŽS system.
*[[Maps and Plans#Serbia|Maps and Plans - Serbia]]


==Gauge==
==Gauge==
Standard.
Standard.
Beograd Tramways are metre gauge.


==Electrification==
==Electrification==
25kV 50Hz.
25 kV 50 Hz.
 
Beograd Tramways are 600 V dc.


==Rule of the road==
==Rule of the road==
Line 55: Line 69:


==Tourist Lines==
==Tourist Lines==
A long section of the former Beograd - Sarajevo 760mm gauge line, about 30 km west of Užice, has been re-opened: the "Sarganska Osmica", between Sargan and Mokra Gora stations, including a "figure of eight": timetable details on the [http://www.zeleznicesrbije.com/active/sr-latin/home/glavna_navigacija/prezentacije/sarganska_osmica/red_voznje_sarganske_osmice.html ŽS website].
A long section of the former Beograd - Sarajevo 760 mm gauge line, about 30 km west of Užice, has been re-opened: the "Sarganska Osmica", between Sargan and Mokra Gora stations, including a "figure of eight": timetable details on the [https://serbianrailways.com/timetable-and-toure-prices/ ŽS website].


A short section of 600mm gauge forestry railway has been rebuilt, also near Mokra Gora.
A short section of 600 mm gauge forestry railway had been rebuilt, also near Mokra Gora, by 2001 but this appears to have been closed for some years.


==Metro==
==Metro==
None
Construction of a 2 line metro in Belgrade started in 2023. Re-allocation of budget, to Expo 2027 in Belgrade, meant work was slowed in January 2025 with completion now in 2033 or later.


==Trams==
== Trams/LRT-Systems ==
Beograd
Beograd - Free to all passengers from 1 January 2025.


==Recent and future changes==
A basic line diagram is available at the [https://urbanrail.net/eu/rs/beograd/beograd.htm UrbanRail.Net] site along with a link to the local operator.


===Future===
==Recent and Future Changes==
Redevelopment of "Prokop" station in Beograd (i.e. Beograd Centar) will enable closure of the terminal station, Beograd Glavna Železnička Stanica, in around 2014/2015, releasing its site for commercial development.


===Openings===
===Novi Sad station===
The collapse of a canopy, with fatal consequences, at Novi Sad station on 1 November 2024 has caused the closure of the station until further notice.


The Table 85 route between Niš and Fushë-Kosovë/Kosovo Polje closed south of Kosanička Rača in the late 1990s. Due to poor track condition, from 14 May 2004 severe speed limits were imposed on table 75 trains between Doljevac and Kuršumlija, and the single train pair beyond Kuršumlija to Kosanička Rača was cancelled. The service was reinstated a few weeks later but later was removed again. From 2009 one train pair was advertised beyond Kosanička Rača to Merdare but it was not clear that these regularly run: in May 2010 they were replaced by buses. In October 2011 an overnight return working between Niš and Kuršumlija was advertised. In the 2012/2013 timetable one daily train makes a return journey between Niš and Merdare, confirmed in September 2013.
From that date:
* trains from the Beograd direction have been terminating at Petrovaradin, and  
* trains from the Karavukovo/Bogojevo/Sombor direction have been terminating at Novi Sad Ranžirna,
with connecting bus services to and from Novi Sad. Further details are available on the [https://w3.srbvoz.rs/redvoznje/ Napomene uz red vožnje / Timetable Notes] section of the Journey Planner.


On the Table 45 route between Požarevac and Zaječar via Majdanpek, services between Požarevac and Majdanpek ceased from or before the start of the December 2010/2011 timetable. One daytime train restarted between Požarevac and Majdanpek in the 2012/2013 timetable, but it was reported in September 2013 that this train pair does not operate.
===Future Changes===
====Infrastructure Changes====
On 7 July 2018 a €943m agreement was signed with the Chinese for modernisation of the route between Novi Sad and the Hungarian border. Work was expected to start in 2019. The Chinese had already been appointed main contractors for the modernisation of Beograd – Stara Pazova. The Russians are modernising and double tracking Stara Pazova – Novi Sad, including the construction of a new tunnel at Čortanovci, 3 viaducts, 19 bridges, and a new station at Beška. Beograd - Novi Sad was expected to re-open by December 2021, with a non-stop journey time of 27 minutes. However, the work had not been completed by December 2024.


===Closures===
Two new deviations totalling 14.16 km are under construction between Indija and Novi Sad, originally planned for opening 7 December 2019 with the rest of the reconstructed section from Stara Pazova to Novi Sad.
The Niš – Niš ranžirna – Crveni Krst circular has disappeared from the 2013-2014 timetable after appearing in the 2012-2013 timetable and confirmed as running in that period.  


The suspension of the Beograd to Bucureşti Nord service on 10 February 2012 removed the only services between Beograd (Beograd Spoljna) and Beograd Dunav via the Sava river line. This service appears to have been replaced by a local service from Beograd Dunav to Vršac with onward connection to Timişoara.
Work has started on upgrading sections of the Beograd - Niš - Preševo (- Skopje) line, which forms part of Trans-European Corridor X. As at July 2016 work was focused on the Niš to Preševo section.  Extensive work was under way in the Beograd area in October 2017. The plan was for Beograd - Niš to have been upgraded to 160 km/h by 2025.


A number of passenger services have ceased since the late 1990s. In most cases freight traffic remains but prospects of passenger re-opening are slim:
===Changes in 2025===
On 1 January 2025 Belgrade became the largest European City to offer free public transport to all passengers.


* Table 22: Gajdobra - Bačka Palanka
===Changes in 2024===
* Table 23: Karavukovo - Bač
* Table 32: Novi Sad - Bečej
* Novi Sad - Beočin
* Table 35: Čoka - Novi Kneževac
* Table 41: Kikinda - Banatško Aranđelovo
* Table 42: Sečanj - Jaša Tomić
* Table 46: Požarevac - Kostolac
* Paraćin - Stari Popovac


The following services changed with the 15 December 2002 timetable:
====Openings====
* The single early morning working over the Vražogrnac avoiding line (Trnavac – Rgotina) ceased.
The 2024-2025 timetable shows services over the following sections of line, where none were shown in the previous timetable period:
* A service restarted on table 31, Novi Sad - Orlovat Stajalište.  
* Table 40: Pančevo - Zrenjanin.


The following services ceased from or before the start of the December 2005 timetable:
====Closures====
* Table 11: Šid – Bijeljina
The 2023-24 timetable showed no services over the following sections of line:
* Table 12: Loznica – Zvornik Grad (already closed for some time)
* Table 25: Vrbas - Sombor.
* Table 24: Sombor – Apatin Fabrika
* Table 40: Pančevo - Zrenjanin.
* Table 43: Zrenjanin – Vršac – Bela Crkva (Boka - Bela Crkva had already closed)  
* Table 71: Mala Krsna - Velika Plana.
* Table 80: Niš - Dimitrovgrad.
* Table 85: Niš - Merdare.
* Table 90: Niš - Preševo.
Note that the only international border crossings open to passenger services in this period are those with Montenegro (via Bijelo Polje) and Hungary (Subotica - Szeged line).


The following services ceased from or before the start of the December 2009/2010 timetable:
===Changes in 2023===
* Table 12: Šabac - Loznica
====Openings====
* Table 31: Novi Sad - Orlovat Stajalište
After a decade with no services, services re-started on 4 January 2023 from the Dunavski platforms at Pančevački most to Pančevo Vojlovica, reopening the short branch from Pančevo Varoš to Pančevo Vojlovica.
* Table 73: Kraljevo - Stalač


===Historical Information===
Modernisation work on the Serbian section of the Subotica - Horgoš - Röszke - Szeged (Hungary) line was completed with the re-opening of the line in November 2023.


NATO air strikes in March - June 1999 caused much damage to the country's railway system. The main routes have been restored, including a new road+rail bridge over the Dunav (Danube) river at Novi Sad; however the continuing economic situation means that there is a severe shortage of locomotives and rolling stock.
===Changes in 2021===
====Closures====
Table 60 passenger services between Rudnica and Kosovska Mitrovica Sever (Kosovo) ceased at some point in summer 2021, and Kosovska Mitrovica Sever no longer appears in the journey planner list of stations.


A new route from Valjevo via Zvornik (in Serbia) to Tuzla (in Bosnia-Hercegovina) was started before the break-up of Yugoslavia. Completion of the Zvornik to Tuzla section was interrupted by the war in 1991 but has since been largely finished. The line carries no regular traffic. Note that this line is shown wrongly, or not at all, on many maps, and actually runs from Rasputnica [= junction] Donja Borina, just south of Brasina on the line to Zvornik Grad, via a cross-border river bridge to Zvornik Novi (where there is a large works) then on to Caparde and Kalesija before ending at Živinice, which is on a freight line south from Tuzla. Work on the Valjevo to Zvornik section was stopped - some construction work can be seen at the Valjevo end - but there are optimistic plans of a restart using EU finance.
Novi Sad to Orlovat Stajalište has no service in the 2021/2022 timetable, but this may be a result of the engineering works affecting the main line at Novi Sad.


There were optimistic plans by ŽRS to connect the isolated Bijeljina - Velino Selo - Šid ŽS line to the Doboj - Šamac line, branching off just north of Milosevac on the Šamac line and running through Brčko to Bijeljina. This would have provided a direct link to Serbia, to eliminate the need to cross into Croatia or the Muslim-Croat Federation, and would have connected the western and southern parts of the Republika Srpska. Nothing has been heard of this project for many years.
===Older Changes===
For details of older changes see [[Serbia - Older General Information]].


==Special Notes==
==Special Notes==
The Beograd - Bar line passes through Bosnia-Hercegovina (Republika Srpska) for a short distance, including stations at Jablanice and Štrpci.
The timetable (''Red Vožnje'') includes lines over which services have been suspended for many years and also trains with the note "''privremeno ne saobraća''" - temporarily not running and which therefore do not appear in the journey planner.
 
Late running is very common on the lines south from Beograd, because schedules do not appear to allow for engineering work, single line working and speed restrictions.  Branch connections may be held, but this cannot be guaranteed.  Schedules are very slow on some secondary lines, because of the poor condition of infrastructure. 
 
The Beograd - Bar line passes through Bosnia-Herzegovina (Republika Srpska) for a short distance, including a station at Štrpci.
 
<!--==References==
<references />-->


==See also==
==See also==
{{Navbox Serbia}}
{{Navbox Serbia}}
[[Category:General Information]]

Latest revision as of 21:21, 8 September 2025

Country Name

Serbia (Srbija)

National railway system

National Railway Operator

Železnice Serbije (ŽS - Железнице Србије). ŽS was divided into four subsidiaries in July 2015: ŽS Infrastructure, Srbija Voz (passenger operations), Srbija Kargo and ŽS Holding.

Infrastructure Authority

Infrastruktura železnice Srbije

Language

Serbian.

Currency

The Dinar is the normal currency, with Euros also being accepted. Most banks and border stations have currency exchange facilities.

UIC code

Numeric 72; alpha SRB

Timetable

Journey Planner

Srbija Voz offers several useful search options:

  • Direct Trains - display all trains between two specific stations on the ŽS network
  • Station Timetable - display train departure or arrival lists for each ŽS station
  • BG:Voz Timetable - displays a PDF of the suburban train services around Beograd, though only in Serbian. Note these services also show up in the other journey planner options.

Downloadable Timetable

Timetable – “Kurir” offers a list of timetable PDF files to download, by individual route. International services are listed in their own PDF file. NOTE though the page heading implies these are the timetables from 2024/2025, as at 26 December 2024 they appear to still be from a previous year. For actual 2024/2025 timetable PDFs, refer to the Serbian language page at Ред вожње – Курир / Red Vožnje – Kurir.

Printed Timetable

Red Vožnje. Printed in Serbian throughout.

Engineering Information

Engineering information and other timetable changes are listed under "Timetable Notes" on the main Journey Planner page, though only in Serbian.

Bus information

Multiple operators country wide, and a regular ERG Contributor in 2025 recommended the Polazak website as a starting point.

Network Statement

All recent network statements can be found at the Network Statement page.

Maps

Printed Maps

Web-based Maps

Gauge

Standard.

Beograd Tramways are metre gauge.

Electrification

25 kV 50 Hz.

Beograd Tramways are 600 V dc.

Rule of the road

Right.

Other Railways

None.

Tourist Lines

A long section of the former Beograd - Sarajevo 760 mm gauge line, about 30 km west of Užice, has been re-opened: the "Sarganska Osmica", between Sargan and Mokra Gora stations, including a "figure of eight": timetable details on the ŽS website.

A short section of 600 mm gauge forestry railway had been rebuilt, also near Mokra Gora, by 2001 but this appears to have been closed for some years.

Metro

Construction of a 2 line metro in Belgrade started in 2023. Re-allocation of budget, to Expo 2027 in Belgrade, meant work was slowed in January 2025 with completion now in 2033 or later.

Trams/LRT-Systems

Beograd - Free to all passengers from 1 January 2025.

A basic line diagram is available at the UrbanRail.Net site along with a link to the local operator.

Recent and Future Changes

Novi Sad station

The collapse of a canopy, with fatal consequences, at Novi Sad station on 1 November 2024 has caused the closure of the station until further notice.

From that date:

  • trains from the Beograd direction have been terminating at Petrovaradin, and
  • trains from the Karavukovo/Bogojevo/Sombor direction have been terminating at Novi Sad Ranžirna,

with connecting bus services to and from Novi Sad. Further details are available on the Napomene uz red vožnje / Timetable Notes section of the Journey Planner.

Future Changes

Infrastructure Changes

On 7 July 2018 a €943m agreement was signed with the Chinese for modernisation of the route between Novi Sad and the Hungarian border. Work was expected to start in 2019. The Chinese had already been appointed main contractors for the modernisation of Beograd – Stara Pazova. The Russians are modernising and double tracking Stara Pazova – Novi Sad, including the construction of a new tunnel at Čortanovci, 3 viaducts, 19 bridges, and a new station at Beška. Beograd - Novi Sad was expected to re-open by December 2021, with a non-stop journey time of 27 minutes. However, the work had not been completed by December 2024.

Two new deviations totalling 14.16 km are under construction between Indija and Novi Sad, originally planned for opening 7 December 2019 with the rest of the reconstructed section from Stara Pazova to Novi Sad.

Work has started on upgrading sections of the Beograd - Niš - Preševo (- Skopje) line, which forms part of Trans-European Corridor X. As at July 2016 work was focused on the Niš to Preševo section. Extensive work was under way in the Beograd area in October 2017. The plan was for Beograd - Niš to have been upgraded to 160 km/h by 2025.

Changes in 2025

On 1 January 2025 Belgrade became the largest European City to offer free public transport to all passengers.

Changes in 2024

Openings

The 2024-2025 timetable shows services over the following sections of line, where none were shown in the previous timetable period:

  • Table 40: Pančevo - Zrenjanin.

Closures

The 2023-24 timetable showed no services over the following sections of line:

  • Table 25: Vrbas - Sombor.
  • Table 40: Pančevo - Zrenjanin.
  • Table 71: Mala Krsna - Velika Plana.
  • Table 80: Niš - Dimitrovgrad.
  • Table 85: Niš - Merdare.
  • Table 90: Niš - Preševo.

Note that the only international border crossings open to passenger services in this period are those with Montenegro (via Bijelo Polje) and Hungary (Subotica - Szeged line).

Changes in 2023

Openings

After a decade with no services, services re-started on 4 January 2023 from the Dunavski platforms at Pančevački most to Pančevo Vojlovica, reopening the short branch from Pančevo Varoš to Pančevo Vojlovica.

Modernisation work on the Serbian section of the Subotica - Horgoš - Röszke - Szeged (Hungary) line was completed with the re-opening of the line in November 2023.

Changes in 2021

Closures

Table 60 passenger services between Rudnica and Kosovska Mitrovica Sever (Kosovo) ceased at some point in summer 2021, and Kosovska Mitrovica Sever no longer appears in the journey planner list of stations.

Novi Sad to Orlovat Stajalište has no service in the 2021/2022 timetable, but this may be a result of the engineering works affecting the main line at Novi Sad.

Older Changes

For details of older changes see Serbia - Older General Information.

Special Notes

The timetable (Red Vožnje) includes lines over which services have been suspended for many years and also trains with the note "privremeno ne saobraća" - temporarily not running and which therefore do not appear in the journey planner.

Late running is very common on the lines south from Beograd, because schedules do not appear to allow for engineering work, single line working and speed restrictions. Branch connections may be held, but this cannot be guaranteed. Schedules are very slow on some secondary lines, because of the poor condition of infrastructure.

The Beograd - Bar line passes through Bosnia-Herzegovina (Republika Srpska) for a short distance, including a station at Štrpci.


See also

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