China, October 2026 – Chinese manufacturer CRRC Changchun unveiled the first train on 12 October for Serbia’s new railway connection serving Belgrade Airport and the Expo 2027 complex. The trains are being supplied under a €74 million contract awarded in November 2024 through an intergovernmental agreement between Serbia and China. The project forms part of Serbia’s wider efforts to modernise its railway network and improve access to key transport and development areas.
The order comprises nine electric multiple-unit trainsets designed for speeds of up to 120 kilometres per hour. Each train measures 63.2 metres and can accommodate approximately 380 passengers. The vehicles feature Expo 2027 branding and are intended to carry visitors between the city, airport and exhibition area during the event, which is expected to attract more than four million visitors between May and August 2027.
The new 18.3-kilometre railway will run from Zemun Polje station on the Belgrade–Novi Sad route, via Nikola Tesla Airport, to the National Stadium near the Expo site. The double-track line is being built with 25 kV, 50 Hz electrification and designed for speeds of up to 120 kilometres per hour. Construction began in August 2024, and an inspection train completed a test run on the 11-kilometre section between Zemun Polje and the airport on 7 October 2026.
The Serbian government has targeted completion of construction by the end of 2026, with passenger services expected to begin in March or April 2027. The airport station will be located approximately 500 metres from the entrance to Terminal 1, and the journey from Belgrade Centre station to the airport is expected to take around 15 to 20 minutes. After Expo 2027, the trains are intended to remain in regular passenger service as part of the wider BG Voz suburban railway network.
The project illustrates how infrastructure developed for a major international event can also support long-term urban transport needs. By linking the city centre, airport and a major new development, the railway is intended to improve accessibility while providing additional capacity for suburban travel. Its longer-term value will depend on reliable operations, convenient interchange with other services and sustained passenger demand after the exhibition concludes.
Source: Railway Gazette International
CRRC Unveils First Electric Train for Belgrade Airport and Expo 2027
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Rail connections to airports and major event venues are becoming an important part of urban transport planning, helping cities manage visitor flows while strengthening everyday passenger mobility. Serbia has unveiled the first of nine electric multiple-unit trains for a new railway linking Belgrade, Nikola Tesla Airport and the National Stadium near the Expo 2027 site, ahead of the international event.
