Serbia - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services
Introduction
This list is based on the the 2024/2025 PDF timetables published at Ред вожње – Курир / Red Vožnje – Kurir, unless otherwise stated. Standard abbreviations are explained here.
Map references for each route entry are given in parentheses ( ). References prefixed "ERA-E" refer to the European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition) by M.G. Ball. References prefixed "ERA-R" refer to the European Railway Atlas (Regional Series: Book 3) by M.G. Ball.
Obscure services
Golubinci - Inđija
[10, 30] (ERA-E 102C2; ERA-R 222B5) RS25/1
This curve connects the Beograd - Šid and Beograd - Novi Sad lines. There are four daily train pairs via this curve between Šid/Sremska Mitrovica and Novi Sad.
(ERA-E 102C2; ERA-R 224B2) RS25/2
The "Danube platform" (dunavski kolosek or dunavski peron) at Pančevački most station is on the former route towards Beograd Dunav station. Click on the thumbnail for a full size map (which at the time of writing shows this platform as disused).
The following services are shown in the 2024-2025 timetable PDF files as starting or ending their journey in this platform.
| 2500 | 07:32 Pančevački most - Zrenjanin | ||
| 2502 | 16:30 Pančevački most - Zrenjanin | ||
| 2501 | Zrenjanin - 06:43 Pančevo gl. st. - Pančevački most | ||
| 2503 | Zrenjanin - 15:54 Pančevo gl. st. - Pančevački most |
Niš area
Niš ranžirna is a freight yard to the west of Niš. There are triangular junctions with the Niš - Lapovo/Beograd, Niš - Preševo/Skopje and Niš - Dimitrovgrad/Sofia lines. Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.
Niš – Niš ranžirna – Crveni Krst
[91] (ERA-E 103B4; ERA-R 223A1) RS25/3
Staff trains run from Niš via the east to north curve off the Skopje line, call at the freight yard station at Niš ranžirna (where they wait for 15 minutes and change train number), then run via the south to east curve to Crveni Krst and onwards to Niš, performing a clockwise loop. Though these trains are clearly intended for members of staff, no objection has been raised to other passengers using them in the past. It was confirmed in October 2018 that the staff trains still run, but are not advertised. Use by passengers has therefore ceased or is unofficial. Reports of recent operations would be welcomed by the compilers.
The most recent timings available are:
| 6300/6301 | 06:40 Niš - Niš ranžirna - Niš | ||
| 6202/6303 | 14:40 Niš - Niš ranžirna - Niš | ||
| 6304/6305 | 18:40 Niš - Niš ranžirna - Niš |
Niš – Niš ranžirna – Trupale or Niš Odvojna Skretnica 4 - Odvojna Skretnica 2
(ERA-E 103B4; ERA-R 223A1) RS25/4
The Optima Express car carrying train runs via this route to avoid reversing the train in Niš station; and a change of locomotive is required from diesel to electric or vice versa. The train runs once per week in each direction between Villach (Austria) and Edirne (Turkey), between late April/early May and mid November. Foot passenger bookings may also be made. The first route was reported by a traveller in 2023, with the locomotive change occurring at Niš ranžirna. The second route was reported by a traveller in 2024, with the locomotive change occurring at Crveni Krst. Further information would be welcomed by the compilers.
Požega avoiding line: Rasna – Boračko
[50, 73] (ERA 222B2) RS25/5
This is a south to east curve avoiding Požega station. When engineering operations close the direct route via Vreoci and Valjevo, this curve is used by diverted, usually overnight, trains between Beograd and Bar.
Other sparse services
The following lines have few trains (relative to service levels generally in this country) - fewer than three trains each way on at least three days a week - or do not run each weekday:
| 12 | Šabac – Zvornik | Two train pairs daily (no service Zvornik - Zvornik Grad) |
| 40 | Pančevo Glavna st. - Zrenjanin | Two train pairs daily |
| 40A | Zrenjanin - Banatsko Miloševo | One train pair daily |
| 60 | Lapovo - Kraljevo | One train pair daily, one train pair SSuX |
| 60 | Kraljevo - Rudnica | Two train pairs daily |
| 73 | Kraljevo - Stalać | Two train pairs daily |
| 75 | Niš - Zaječar | Two train pairs daily |
| 75 | Negotin - Prahovo pristanište | Two train pairs daily |
| 80 | Niš - Bela Palanka - Pirot - Dimitrovgrad | Regular service suspended. The Optima Express car carrying train runs via this route. The train runs once per week in each direction between Villach (Austria) and Edirne (Turkey), between late April/early May and mid November. Foot passenger bookings may also be made. |
| A | Subotica - Kelebia (Hungary) | Service suspended for engineering works |
| Šid - Tovarnik (Croatia) | Regular service suspended. The Optima Express car carrying train runs via this route. The train runs once per week in each direction between Villach (Austria) and Edirne (Turkey), between late April/early May and mid November. Foot passenger bookings may also be made. | |
| G, 50 | Prijepolje Teretna - Bijelo Polje (Montenegro) | One train pair all year, second train pair 13 June to 14 September 2025 |
Deletions since previous edition
The following lines have had no advertised trains for at least two timetable periods:
| 25 | Vrbas - Sombor | Service suspended |
| 31 | Novi Sad - Orlovat stajalište | Service suspended |
| 60 | Rudnica - Kosovska Mitrovica Sever | Service suspended |
| 71 | Mala Krsna - Velika Plana | Service suspended |
| 85 | Niš - Prokuplje - Kuršumlija - Merdare | Service suspended (stations beyond Prokuplje have been removed from the journey planner list of stations) |
| 90 | Niš - Preševo | Service suspended and removed from journey planner list of stations |
| Bogojevo - Erdut (Croatia) | Service suspended | |
| C | Dimitrovgrad - Kalotina Zapad (Bulgaria) | Service suspended |
| D | Preševo - Tabanovci (North Macedonia) | Service suspended |
