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/?lang=en ŽS website Timetable page] offers four options by clicking on tabs in the top left corner of the page:
[https://w3.srbvoz.rs/redvoznje Srbija Voz] offers several useful search options:
* '''Station''' - display train departure or arrival lists for each station
* '''Direct Trains''' - display all trains between two specific stations on the ŽS network
* '''Direct Trains''' - display all trains between two specific stations on the main ŽS network
* '''Station Timetable''' - display train departure or arrival lists for each ŽS station
* '''Beovoz''' - display all trains between two specific stations on the Beovoz network (Beograd area local services)
* '''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.
* '''BG Train''' - display train departure or arrival lists for specific stations on the Pančevački Most - Beograd Centar - Batajnica local services
On the '''Beovoz''' and '''BG Train''' tabs, station names are entered by clicking on the station names on the displayed route diagrams.


===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===
Red Vožnje. Printed in Serbian throughout.
Red Vožnje. Printed in Serbian throughout.


===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==


==Map==
All recent network statements can be found at the [https://infrazs.rs/pristup-infrastrukturi/izjava-o-mrezi-2016/ Network Statement page].
===Timetable Map===
A fold-out, near-geographic route diagram is included in the timetable, but many lines are shown which no longer have a passenger service. [http://212.62.59.16/red_voznje1/mreza_pruga.jpg This diagram] is also available on the website and still shows Kosovo as part of the ŽS system.


===Other Maps===
==Maps==
There is no published map of the railways of Serbia, except that in M.G. Ball's "European Railway Atlas". [http://www.bueker.net/trainspotting/maps.php Thorsten Büker's website] has maps of [http://www.bueker.net/trainspotting/maps_serbia---montenegro.php Serbia] and the [http://www.bueker.net/trainspotting/maps_beograd.php Beograd area].
===Printed Maps===
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-E | European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition)]] by M.G. Ball.
*[[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===
*[[:File:Serbia_Montenegro.gif | Map of Serbia and Montenegro]] dated December 2020.
*[[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 56: 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/LRT-Systems ==
Beograd - Free to all passengers from 1 January 2025.
 
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.
 
==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.


==Trams==
From that date:
Beograd
* 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.


==Recent and future changes==
===Future Changes===
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.
====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.


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.
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.


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:
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.


* Table 22: Gajdobra - Bačka Palanka
===Changes in 2025===
* Table 23: Karavukovo - Bač
On 1 January 2025 Belgrade became the largest European City to offer free public transport to all passengers.
* 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:
===Changes in 2024===
* The single early morning working over the Vražogrnac avoiding line (Trnavac – Rgotina) ceased.
* A service restarted on table 31, Novi Sad - Orlovat Stajalište.


The following services ceased from or before the start of the December 2005 timetable:
====Openings====
* Table 11: Šid – Bijeljina
The 2024-2025 timetable shows services over the following sections of line, where none were shown in the previous timetable period:
* Table 12: Loznica – Zvornik Grad (already closed for some time)
* Table 40: Pančevo - Zrenjanin.
* Table 24: Sombor – Apatin Fabrika
* Table 43: Zrenjanin – Vršac – Bela Crkva (Boka - Bela Crkva had already closed)


The following services ceased from or before the start of the December 2009/2010 timetable:
====Closures====
* Table 12: Šabac - Loznica
The 2023-24 timetable showed no services over the following sections of line:
* Table 31: Novi Sad - Orlovat Stajalište
* Table 25: Vrbas - Sombor.
* Table 73: Kraljevo - Stalač
* 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).


The following services ceased from or before the start of the December 2010/2011 timetable:
===Changes in 2023===
* Table 45: Požarevac - Majdanpek
====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.


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. A Beograd - Banja Luka service was intended to run this way [for a period Thomas Cook's timetable showed a train "subject to confirmation"] but ran instead via Šamac (see above), possibly because of the poor track condition on the ŽS line between Ruma and Zvornik. Work on the Valjevo to Zvornik section was stopped - some construction work can be seen at the Valjevo end - but there are plans of a restart using EU finance.
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.


There are 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 provide a direct link to Serbia, to eliminate the need to cross into Croatia or the Muslim-Croat Federation, and would connect the western and southern parts of the Republika Srpska.
===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.


The Beograd - Bar line passes through Bosnia-Hercegovina (Republika Srpska) for a short distance, including stations at Jablanice and Štrpci.
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==
==Special Notes==
In June 2006 Montenegro became independent of the former combined "Serbia and Montenegro", which on 4 February 2003 had replaced the former name "Federal Republic of Yugoslavia".
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==
*[[Serbia]]
{{Navbox Serbia}}
*[[Serbia - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services]]
[[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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