Ready for next-gen travel? Serbia just leveled up with the grand opening of the Novi Sad-Subotica section of the Hungary-Serbia high-speed rail—built by China Railway International and China Communications Construction Company.
The big day kicked off when Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic sent the inaugural train from Belgrade, pulling into Subotica in just about one hour! 🚄 That's a serious time-saver compared to old-school rail.
Why it matters:
- Speedy rides: Belgrade to Subotica in ~60 mins, making weekend getaways super easy.
- Future link: By next year, you’ll hop from Subotica to Budapest in just 1h 35m—bridging borders like a boss!
- Tech upgrade: Serbia's signaling got a boost with ETCS Level 2, a European-standard train control system that keeps everything safe and smooth.
This project, part of the Belt and Road Initiative, isn't just about rails—it's a major push for tourism, foreign investment and jobs (over 1,000 of them!). Environmental safeguards were also built in, so forests and rivers stay protected. 🌱
Chinese Ambassador Li Ming called it a 'flagship' project in Central and Eastern Europe, marking eight years of work since construction began in 2017. With the Hungarian section due next year, the full Belgrade-Budapest line will span 341.7 km, of which 183.1 km cuts through Serbia.
For us in South and Southeast Asia, it's a reminder of how smart infrastructure can reshape daily life. Imagine zipping from Jakarta to Bandung or Manila to Clark in an hour—urban commutes would never be the same! 😉
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
