SERBIA’s national railway operator Srbijavoz will introduce new regional trains into service in 2024, as well as several service extension and revamped timetables. Stadler is supplying 18 Flirt EMUs under a €112m contract awarded by Srbijavoz in December 2021.
Announcing the changes, acting director, Mr Ivan Bulajić, told state broadcaster RTS that the new regional trains will be delivered from April when they will gradually be put into service. They will feature drinks vending machines, two toilets, and comfortable seating.
In addition, all services from Vršac, Niš, and Užice, which currently terminate at Belgrade Center-Prokop, will be extended to the New Belgrade and Zemun stations.
Limited stop inter-city trains will also be introduced on select lines throughout the year, including Belgrade - Užice, promising shorter travel times.
The long-awaited upgrading of the Leskovac - Niš railway is expected to be completed by the end of 2024, potentially replicating the success of the Belgrade - Novi Sad line.
Srbijavoz is seeing a surge in popularity on its services, with passenger numbers expected to jump from 2.6 million in 2021 to over 7 million in 2023.
Separately, national infrastructure manager Serbian Railway Infrastructure (IŽS), has launched a public tender for the renovation of 16 railway stations across Serbia, a project in which it will invest €25m.
The stations include: Šid; Futog; Svetozar Miletića; Rimski Šančevi; Ralja; Platičevo; Ostružnica; Melenci; Martinci; Kovačica; Zrenjanin Fabrika; Zrenjanin Putnička; Gajdobra; Bukovački Salaši; Banatsko Novo Selo; and Pančevo.
The deadline for applying for the tender is January 10 2024.
IŽS successfully renovated 27 railway stations in 2023, at a cost of RSD 280m ($US 2.64m).
For more information on train fleet orders, subscribe to IRJ Pro.
