Serbia, Hungary and North Macedonia sign MoU with focus on BuBe railway

Dennis van der Laan — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 06:38:11 +0000

The Serbian rail freight operator Srbija Kargo, together with Hungarian and North Macedonian counterparts, has signed a memorandum of understanding on a “synchronised rail transport service”. In particular, the three parties focus on the Budapest-Belgrade railway to boost rail freight from China and within Europe.
Srbija Kargo, Rail Cargo Hungaria and Železnice Republike Severne Makedonije Transport hope to achieve “dynamic growth of trade between Europe and the wider region”. The Budapest-Belgrade railway takes centre stage in this plan. Since its opening for freight traffic in late February, the railway is a key artery for goods travelling on the north-south axis across the Balkans.

The plan envisages that rail freight transport among the signatory nations will meet and possibly exceed the volume recorded during the first decade of the 21st century, although the companies do not specify within which timeframe this should happen.

A Srbija Kargo locomotive. Image: © Serbia Cargo

“The cooperation covers two key directions: the transport of goods between China and Europe via existing rail corridors, as well as the transport of goods arriving in or departing from European ports, between terminals on the European continent, supplemented by road transport”, writes Srbija Kargo. Much Chinese freight enters the Greek port of Piraeus, from where it travels to the European hinterland through North Macedonia and Serbia.

“Transport organised in this way brings numerous advantages – faster delivery, shorter transit times, greater cost-effectiveness, reliability in accordance with the timetable, more efficient logistics processes and lower environmental impact”, Srbija Kargo continues.

Key goals of cooperation

Rail freight operations on the cross-Balkan route should improve through the “integration of rail transport relations”, the simplification of logistics chains, common digital solutions, and enhanced cross-border cooperation, the involved companies state.

Moreover, the MoU identifies various areas for future cooperation. These include the development of intermodal transport (semi-trailers, containers), interoperability, knowledge transfers, simplified customs procedures and a digital data exchange. It also mentions coordinated rail infrastructure development, joint marketing efforts, and personnel training as potential areas for collaboration.

Serbia Cargo renews fleet with EBRD funds

Dennis van der Laan — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 13:00:32 +0000

Serbian national rail freight operator Srbija Kargo (Serbia Cargo) is looking to buy eight diesel locomotives with financial support from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). In addition, the company is looking to acquire dozens of new wagons.
Serbia Cargo wants to buy five traction locomotives and another three for shunting services. It also wants to buy around 50 new container wagons and renovate 1,250 wagons. It is also looking for a consultant and a supervisor to oversee the overhaul and repair of the wagons.

The operator will fund the rolling stock upgrades with money from the EBRD – in 2022, the bank approved a loan of 43 million euros to the company. Interested bidders have until 28 March to submit their offers.

In 2019, Serbia Cargo bought 16 new Vectron locomotives from Siemens, which can run at a speed of 160 kilometres per hour, are equipped with ECTS and were allowed to run in several countries around Serbia, including Germany and Austria.

Srbija Kargo | RailFreight.com

Serbia, Hungary and North Macedonia sign MoU with focus on BuBe railway

Key goals of cooperation

Serbia Cargo renews fleet with EBRD funds