In a short period of time, two train derailment incidents occurred on railway lines in Serbia, despite the fact that the lines on which the trains were operating had been recently reconstructed.
The first incident took place on 2 April 2026, when an international passenger train operating between Subotica and Szeged derailed shortly after departing the station. The suspected cause of the incident is a malfunction of a railway switch. This railway line was reconstructed and reopened on 28 November 2023. The works were carried out by RZD International and Karin Komerc MD, with a total value of €86.7 million.
The second incident occurred on 5 April 2026, when an InterRegio train running between Subotica and Belgrade derailed on the section between Bačka Topola and Lovćenac–Mali Iđoš. The train left the tracks at a switch just before Lovćenac.
This incident took place on the international railway line connecting Belgrade and Budapest, specifically on the Novi Sad–Subotica section, which was officially opened to traffic on 3 October 2025 in the presence of officials from Serbia, Hungary, and China. Main contractors on this project was a Chinese consortia of “China Railway International” and “China Communications Construction Company.”
No injuries were reported in either of the incidents.
Concerning these incidents, Rail Cluster SEE shares the concerns of the railway supplier companies and engineering professionals, that the causes of both incidents must be investigated in detail. In this way, the prevention of even more significant hazards that can threaten the safety of people and property will be properly done. The proper reaction will also prevent a further decline in the confidence of railway traffic users (passengers and businesses) in the reconstructed Belgrade – Budapest railway line, which is expected to be fully operational soon.
