View source for Engineering:Budapest–Belgrade–Skopje–Athens railway

{{Short description|Proposed railway line in Europe}}
[[File:Pp22 new old.png|thumb|upright=1.65|New proposal of the Athens–Budapest part of the "Balkan Route" / Corridor X (red) compared to the old planning (green)<ref name="PP22"/>]]

The '''Budapest–Belgrade–Skopje–Athens railway''', a China-CEE hallmark project (2014) of Beijing’s Belt and Road initiative,<ref name="forbes170225">''[https://www.forbes.com/sites/wadeshepard/2017/02/25/another-silk-road-fiasco-chinas-belgrade-to-budapest-high-speed-rail-line-is-probed-by-brussels/#7744d2a33c00 Another Silk Road fiasco? China's Belgrade to Budapest high-speed rail line is probed by Brussels]'', by Wade Shepard, {{wipe|Forbes}} February 25, 2017</ref> is a planned [[Engineering:Rail transport|railroad]] international connection in [[Place:Central Europe|Central]] and [[Place:Southeast Europe|Southeast Europe]] – between [[Place:Budapest|Budapest]] (Hungary), [[Place:Belgrade|Belgrade]] (Serbia), [[Place:Skopje|Skopje]] (North Macedonia), [[Place:Athens|Athens]] and its China-run port of Piraeus (Greece). Planned speed is up to {{convert|200|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} depending on the sections: {{convert|160|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} on the Hungarian section between Budapest and Serbia,<ref name="Budapest-Belgrade first stone">[https://www.mavcsoport.hu/mav/budapest-belgrad-vasutvonal-korszerusitese-alapkoletetel A Budapest-Belgrád vasútvonal korszerűsítése - alapkőletétel (Modernization of the Budapest-Belgrade railway line: Laying the foundation)], mavcsoport.hu, 15 October 2021.</ref> {{convert|200|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} between the Hungarian border and Belgrade<ref>{{cite news |title=Who Benefits From the Chinese-Built Hungary-Serbia Railway? |url=https://thediplomat.com/2018/01/who-benefits-from-the-chinese-built-hungary-serbia-railway/ |access-date=1 November 2019 |work=thediplomat.com}}</ref> and on most of the Belgrade-Niš section,<ref name="loan-signed-Belgrade-Nis">[https://www.railway.supply/en/loan-signed-for-serbias-railway-sector-modernization-project/ Loan signed for Serbia's railway sector modernization project], ''railway supply'', 14 May 2021.</ref> while the current line between [[Place:Thessaloniki|Thessaloniki]] and Athens is {{convert|200|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} with upgrades to {{convert|160|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} ongoing.<ref>''[http://hungarytoday.hu/cikk/china-finance-construction-new-budapest-belgrade-railroad-43460 China To Finance Construction Of New Budapest-Belgrade Railroad]'', Hungary Today, December 17, 2014</ref> The Chinese planners do not comment on the other tracks' realizable speeds. Originally, they spoke of up to {{convert|300|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} throughout.

The first section, the Budapest–Belgrade railway – a $2.89 billion, {{convert|350|km|mi|abbr=on}} high-speed rail line – should have been finished in two years, but is lagging behind due to an EU investigation into possible violations of its public tendering requirements.<ref name="forbes170225"/>

== EU planning ==
In a 2012/13 EC report, ''Priority Project 22: Railway axis Athens–Sofia–Budapest–Vienna–Prague–Nuremberg/Dresden (PP22)'',<ref name="PP22">''[https://ec.europa.eu/transport/sites/transport/files/themes/infrastructure/ten-t-policy/priority-projects/doc/progress-reports/2012-2013/pp22_en.pdf Priority Project 22: Railway axis Athens–Sofia–Budapest–Vienna–Prague–Nuremberg/Dresden]'', Annual Report of the Coordinator, Gilles Savary, European Commission, Brussels, October 2013</ref> the planners included their considerations of the ''Balkan route'', which follows Pan-European Corridor X through Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, North Macedonia and Greece ([[Place:Thessaloniki|Thessaloniki]]–[[Place:Skopje|Skopje]]–[[Place:Belgrade|Belgrade]]–[[Place:Budapest|Budapest]]/[[Place:Zagreb|Zagreb]]–[[Place:Ljubljana|Ljubljana]]–[[Place:Graz|Graz]]/[[Place:Salzburg|Salzburg]]) and shortens the present [[Place:Athens|Athens]]–[[Place:Budapest|Budapest]] route via Bulgaria and Romania by {{convert|330|km|mi|abbr=on}}. The total length is around {{convert|1030|km|mi|abbr=on}} compared to {{convert|1362|km|mi|abbr=on}} for the current southern [[Place:Athens|Athens]]–[[Place:Budapest|Budapest]] part of ''PP22''. Moreover, there were also a number of technical advantages of this proposed part of the ''Balkan route'': 89% of it was electrified, as against 75% of the present ''PP22'' route and the tracks were designed for higher maximum speeds overall. Nevertheless 64% of the planned line was still single track, compared to 54% of the present part of the ''PP22'' route.

The planners appeal to the politicians: ''"In the medium term it may become necessary to tailor priorities in line with what is feasible, both for the European Union, the main provider of funding, and the Member States concerned. In this respect, Croatia’s accession to the European Union in July 2013 and discussions with the [r]epublics of the former [[Place:Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]] in connection with the review of TEN–T policy present a useful opportunity to develop rail links between [[Place:Southeast Europe|south–east]] and [[Place:Central Europe|central Europe]] via the western Balkans."''<ref name="PP22"/>

== Hungarian section (modernization) ==

The maximum speed of the track is designed to be up to {{convert|160|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} on the Hungarian section.<ref name="Budapest-Belgrade first stone"/>

The Hungarian section ({{convert|152|km|mi|abbr=on}}) of the project was announced in 2015 to cost HUF 472 billion and expected to be completed as of 2017–2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kormany.hu/en/ministry-of-foreign-affairs-and-trade/news/intergovernmental-agreement-on-the-modernisation-of-the-belgrade-budapest-railway-line-has-been-initialled-in-beijing|title=Intergovernmental agreement on the modernisation of the Belgrade-Budapest railway line has been initialled in Beijing|website=Government|access-date=11 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kormany.hu/hu/kulgazdasagi-es-kulugyminiszterium/hirek/meg-az-iden-megkezdodhet-a-budapest-belgrad-vasutvonal-modernizalasa|title=Még az idén megkezdődhet a Budapest-Belgrád vasútvonal modernizálása|website=Kormányzat|access-date=10 June 2019|language=hu}}</ref> Currently it is expected to cost HUF 949 billion ($3.6 billion) with interest.

In Hungary, the project is carried out by Kínai-Magyar Vasúti Nonprofit Zrt (Chinese-Hungarian Railway Nonprofit Ltd.), a Hungarian-Chinese joint venture of MÁV Zrt. with China Railway International Corporation (CRIC) and China Railway International Group (CRIG).<ref name="bb">{{Cite news|url=https://budapestbeacon.com/hungary-kicks-off-usd-3-6-billion-belgrade-budapest-rail-line-investment/|title=Hungary kicks off USD 3.6 billion Belgrade-Budapest rail line investment|date=27 November 2017|work=The Budapest Beacon|access-date=4 June 2018|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>''Chinese-Hungarian Railway Nonprofit Ltd.: Chinese-Hungarian Railway Non-Profit Private Limited Company'', in Hungarian: ''[https://www.mavcsoport.hu/bbproject Kínai-Magyar Vasúti Nonprofit Zrt.: Kínai-Magyar Vasúti Nonprofit Zártkörűen Működő Részvénytársaság]'', 10 November 2016, on the MÁV website mavcsoport.hu)</ref><ref name="seenews-1">{{Cite web|url=https://seenews.com/news/hungary-expects-bids-for-belgrade-budapest-railway-works-in-march-601317|title=Hungary expects bids for Belgrade-Budapest railway works in March|website=seenews.com|language=en|access-date=4 June 2018}}</ref> According to one estimate, the works on this section could begin in 2021, as one year is needed for the public procurement procedures, and two years for the planning and negotiation phase.<ref name="thediplomat">{{cite news |url=https://thediplomat.com/2018/01/who-benefits-from-the-chinese-built-hungary-serbia-railway/ |title=Who Benefits From the Chinese-Built Hungary-Serbia Railway? |accessdate=1 November 2019 |work=The Diplomat |first=Zoltán |last=Vörös |date=4 January 2018}}</ref>
The investment is widely criticised as it will never recover its costs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://index.hu/gazdasag/2017/12/01/budapest_belgrad_megterules_vam_kereskedelem_pireusz_kina_131_ev/ |title=130 év alatt térülhet meg a méregdrága kínai vasút|date=1 December 2019|website=Index.hu|access-date=20 December 2019|language=hu}}</ref>

The construction of the Hungarian part of the railway, 152&nbsp;km, was started in October 2021 and is due to be completed by 2025.<ref>[https://www.railwaypro.com/wp/hungary-launched-belgrade-budapest-line-construction/ Hungary launched Belgrade – Budapest line construction], railwaypro.com, November 2021.</ref><ref name="Budapest-Belgrade first stone"/>

== Serbian section (modernization) ==

The maximum speed of the track is designed to be up to {{convert|200|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} on the Serbian section.

=== Subotica - Novi Sad ===
The reconstruction of the 108&nbsp;km section Novi Sad-[[Place:Subotica|Subotica]] (Hungarian border) was set to begin in 2019, with estimated cost of €943 million, built by CCCC<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ccccltd.cn/news/gsyw/201807/t20180711_93434.html|title=李克强见证匈塞铁路商务合同签署公司应邀参加中国-中东欧国家经贸论坛，孙子宇代表公司签约|publisher=China Communications Construction|date=11 July 2018|access-date=19 July 2020|language=zh|archive-date=20 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720083552/http://www.ccccltd.cn/news/gsyw/201807/t20180711_93434.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> and a duration of 33 months, requiring the closure of this section during the reconstruction time.<ref name="magyarszo">{{Cite news|url=https://www.magyarszo.rs/hu/3663/vesti_na_srpskom/182330/Brze-pruge-i-savremene-%C5%BEelezni%C4%8Dke-stanice.htm|title=Brze pruge i savremene železničke stanice|last=Hajnalka|first=Miklós|work=Magyar Szó Online|access-date=4 June 2018}}</ref> It actually started on 7 April 2022 and is due to be completed for the end of 2024.<ref>[http://www.sattelevizija.com/vesti/jedna_vest/pruga_od_novog_sada_do_subotice_menja_geografiju__vijadukt_kod_vrbasa_bice_dug_1_600_metara_22411123243 Pruga od Novog Sada do Subotice menja geografiju - vijadukt kod Vrbasa biće dug 1.600 metara] (The railway from Novi Sad to Subotica is changing its geography - the viaduct near Vrbas will be 1,600 meters long), 11 Apr 2022, SatTV.</ref>

=== Novi Sad - Belgrade ===

In Serbia, the {{convert|34.5|km|mi|abbr=on}}-long Belgrade-Stara Pazova section was reconstructed by China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) together with China Railways International (CRI), with the investment of $350.1 million, funded with a loan from the Export-Import Bank of China.<ref name="seenews-2">{{Cite web|url=https://seenews.com/news/serbia-starts-belgrade-stara-pazova-railway-overhaul-govt-592753|title=Serbia starts Belgrade-Stara Pazova railway overhaul - govt|website=seenews.com|language=en|access-date=4 June 2018}}</ref><ref name="seenews-3">{{Cite web|url=https://seenews.com/news/russias-rzd-to-start-overhaul-of-part-of-belgrade-budapest-railway-in-july-573182|title=Russia's RZD to start overhaul of part of Belgrade-Budapest railway in July|website=seenews.com|language=en|access-date=4 June 2018}}</ref> The section Stara Pazova-Novi Sad is being reconstructed by the Russian RZD International, financed with Russian credit.<ref name="seenews-3" /> The section between Belgrade and Novi Sad was opened on 19 March 2022.<ref name="belgrade-novi-sad-line-reopens">[https://www.railjournal.com/infrastructure/belgrade-novi-sad-line-reopens-following-reconstruction/ Belgrade - Novi Sad line reopens following reconstruction], International Railway Journal, 29 March 2022.</ref>

=== Belgrade - Niš ===
The Belgrade - Niš railway is following the direction of the central part of the Pan-European Corridor X. The reconstructed railway will be 228&nbsp;km long.<ref name="srbija-2023-03">[https://www.srbija.gov.rs/vest/en/204246/contract-on-second-tranche-for-construction-of-belgrade-nis-high-speed-railway-signed.php "Contract on second tranche for construction of Belgrade-Nis high-speed railway signed"], 30 March 2023, srbija.gov.rs.</ref><ref name="railwaypro-2023-03">[https://www.railwaypro.com/wp/serbia-obtains-eu-grant-for-corridor-x/  "Serbia obtains EU grant for Corridor X"], 2 March 2023, railwaypro.com.</ref> Trains will be able to reach speeds of up to 200&nbsp;km/h on about 56% of the railway.<ref name="loan-signed-Belgrade-Nis"/> The work that will be organized in three stages (Belgrade – Velika Plana, Velika Plana – Paracin and Paracin – Niš rail sections) and is expected to be completed in 2029.<ref name="railwaypro-2023-03"/> The first section, Stalać – Đunis (part of Paracin – Niš), is expected to be completed in 2026.<ref name="railwaypro-2023-03"/>

In July 2020, President Aleksandar Vučić announced that the Belgrade-[[Place:Niš|Niš]] railway would be 204&nbsp;km long and would be completed by the end of 2023, with speeds of up to 200&nbsp;km/h (124&nbsp;mph), bringing Belgrade and Niš within 1 hour and 20 minutes of each other.<ref>{{Cite news|date=27 July 2020|title=Vučić: From Belgrade to Niš in an hour and 20 minutes by the end of 2023|work=RTS|url=https://www.rts.rs/page/stories/ci/story/5/ekonomija/4031049/pruga-beograd-nis-fabrika-za-prociscavanje-otpadnih-voda.html|access-date=28 July 2020}}</ref> In March 2023, he stated that the line will connect Belgrade and Niš in 1 hour and 40 minutes instead of 6 hours and a half as of 2023 (almost as long as the 8 hours from when the initial railway was built, in 1884).<ref name="railway-technology-2023-03">[https://www.railway-technology.com/news/serbia-belgrade-nis-rail-project/ "Serbia secures grant for Belgrade-Niš rail project"], 1 March 2023, railway-technology.com.</ref>

On 10 May 2021, a loan agreement was signed in Belgrade for 102 million euros, co-financed by the French Development Agency and the World Bank at 51 million euros each, planned to be used for the complete modernization of the Belgrade-Niš railway.<ref name="loan-signed-Belgrade-Nis"/> On 28 February 2023, a €2.2 billion financial package from the European Union was announced for the Belgrade-Niš railway, composed of up to €598 million in grants, as well as loans of €1.1 billion from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and €550 million from the [[Organization:European Bank for Reconstruction and Development|European Bank for Reconstruction and Development]] (EBRD).<ref name="EIB-2023-03">[https://www.eib.org/en/stories/belgrade-nis-big-eu-rail-financing "Green X factor in Serbia"], 9 March 2023, European Investment Bank.</ref> On 30 March 2023, the Serbian Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, Goran Vesic, stated that the construction of the 228-kilometer high-speed Belgrade - Niš railway was "starting now".<ref name="srbija-2023-03"/>

== See also ==
* Trans-European Transport Networks (TEN-T): Pan-European Corridor X.
* Budapest–Belgrade railway
* Balkan Express (train) (Istanbul – Sofia – Belgrade)
* Bosphorus Express (Istanbul – Bucharest)
* Friendship Express (Istanbul – Thessaloniki)


==References==
<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Budapest-Belgrade-Skopje-Athens railway}}
[[Category:High-speed trains]]

{{Sourceattribution|Budapest–Belgrade–Skopje–Athens railway}}