Hungary’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Péter Szijjártó, announced the anticipated completion of the Budapest-Belgrade (BuBe) railway line by 2025. Seen as a crucial component of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the BuBe line is strategically positioned to provide robust connections to central and northern Europe, along with facilitating access to southern European ports.
Szijjártó emphasized the significance of the BuBe railway during discussions with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi. The railway’s importance is particularly highlighted in its role connecting to the Greek port of Piraeus, a major Chinese logistics hub managed by COSCO. China’s substantial investments in Serbia over the past year align with its broader BRI ambitions. Hungary, too, views its ties with Beijing as a noteworthy success.
The ongoing reconstruction and enhancement of the Budapest-Belgrade line, a vital element of the BuBe project, recently reached a milestone with the reopening of the Szeged-Röszke section in southern Hungary. The comprehensive upgrade, with a total cost of four billion euros, includes doubling the entire railway and modernizing signaling facilities. The overarching plan for the BuBe initiative extends to establishing a rail link from Budapest to Athens through Skopje, Northern Macedonia. The collaborative effort involves Hungary’s State Railways and China Railway International Corporation, signaling a key partnership in advancing this ambitious railway project.
Image source: https://www.railfreight.com/railfreight/2023/10/17/budapest-belgrade-line-to-be-ready-by-2025-says-hungarian-minister/