Works begin on Belgrade-Budapest high-speed rail line

I comprehend the Serbian rail system is dilapidated though surely why does the Hungarian element - practically same distance cost half as much as the Serbian side - Serbia nealy 2 billion leaving nearly 1billion for Hungarian stretch.
(Kozjak, 29 November 2017 07:59)

Because Serbian railways have been run down to a point where trains can only travel 30 kilometers per hour on its lines.

Serbia does not have rolling stock either. Fast trains cannot travel safely on Serbian bridges, some of which were built before WW2 and never replaced. In large parts you have top start from scratch because its so old and dilapidated.

The Hungarians have had access to EU funds and they have done a lot of work on their rail system.

"the entire USD 2.9 billion Belgrade-Budapest high speed rail should be done in six years.....

The total value of the project in Serbia, up to the Hungarian border, is about US 2 billion."

I comprehend the Serbian rail system is dilapidated though surely why does the Hungarian element - practically same distance cost half as much as the Serbian side - Serbia nealy 2 billion leaving nearly 1billion for Hungarian stretch.

Who is financing for it?

>>>Who is financing for it?

Largely China, out of own interest = have quick access to Germany form the port of Pireus. The project is very welcome - except that it has some huge questionmarks and it shows, neither Serbian nor Hungarian interests are relevant.

The #1 problem: the line totally avoids Szeged / Segedin, the largest city in the area.
You would think, the logical way would be to double-track the already existing few dozen km Subotica - Szeged line, than continue. No, they don't do that.

In their utter stupidity they go parallel to Danube where there is nothing between Subotica and Budapest to mention.

OK, but than what? There is no way you can turn from that line towards either Vienna or Vác - Bratislava - Prague in Budapest without avoiding the slow and narrow passage to Budapest-Keleti.

The problem is that there is no turn from Belgrade-Subotica-Kiskunhalas line towards Budapest-Kelenföld possible simply because there is no space to make (or construct!) that turn, the Southern Railway Bridge across Danube is simply way to close.

However, would the Chinese have a bit more brain - the line would be via Szeged.

Of course, you could get from Subotica to Szeged in 15-20 minutes, all border formalities included. Of course, the Austrian Railjets would just avoid all slow lines inside Budapest and go the Szeged - Cegléd - Köbánya-Kispest - Kelenföld - Györ - Vienna, without turning.

"the entire USD 2.9 billion Belgrade-Budapest high speed rail should be done in six years.....

The total value of the project in Serbia, up to the Hungarian border, is about US 2 billion."

I comprehend the Serbian rail system is dilapidated though surely why does the Hungarian element - practically same distance cost half as much as the Serbian side - Serbia nealy 2 billion leaving nearly 1billion for Hungarian stretch.

I comprehend the Serbian rail system is dilapidated though surely why does the Hungarian element - practically same distance cost half as much as the Serbian side - Serbia nealy 2 billion leaving nearly 1billion for Hungarian stretch.
(Kozjak, 29 November 2017 07:59)

Because Serbian railways have been run down to a point where trains can only travel 30 kilometers per hour on its lines.

Serbia does not have rolling stock either. Fast trains cannot travel safely on Serbian bridges, some of which were built before WW2 and never replaced. In large parts you have top start from scratch because its so old and dilapidated.

The Hungarians have had access to EU funds and they have done a lot of work on their rail system.

Who is financing for it?

>>>Who is financing for it?

Largely China, out of own interest = have quick access to Germany form the port of Pireus. The project is very welcome - except that it has some huge questionmarks and it shows, neither Serbian nor Hungarian interests are relevant.

The #1 problem: the line totally avoids Szeged / Segedin, the largest city in the area.
You would think, the logical way would be to double-track the already existing few dozen km Subotica - Szeged line, than continue. No, they don't do that.

In their utter stupidity they go parallel to Danube where there is nothing between Subotica and Budapest to mention.

OK, but than what? There is no way you can turn from that line towards either Vienna or Vác - Bratislava - Prague in Budapest without avoiding the slow and narrow passage to Budapest-Keleti.

The problem is that there is no turn from Belgrade-Subotica-Kiskunhalas line towards Budapest-Kelenföld possible simply because there is no space to make (or construct!) that turn, the Southern Railway Bridge across Danube is simply way to close.

However, would the Chinese have a bit more brain - the line would be via Szeged.

Of course, you could get from Subotica to Szeged in 15-20 minutes, all border formalities included. Of course, the Austrian Railjets would just avoid all slow lines inside Budapest and go the Szeged - Cegléd - Köbánya-Kispest - Kelenföld - Györ - Vienna, without turning.