Train service to launch next Wednesday on Novi Sad-Subotica high speed railway: Return ticket 2,000 dinars

The Soko ("Falcon") train; Photo: Tanjug/Strahinja Acimovic

President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic said today that the Novi Sad-Subotica high speed railway will be launched for commercial use on Wednesday, October 8, while that the return ticket from Belgrade to Subotica will cost 2,000 dinars starting on October 12.

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Vucic said that the trip covering almost 200 kilometers will cost the equivalent of some 8.5 euros, and that from Wednesday Oct. 8 until Sunday, Oct. 12, it will be free for all passengers.

Vucic today traveled from Belgrade to Subotica on the high-speed Soko train, and on the occasion of the commissioning of the stretch of the high speed railway from Novi Sad to Subotica, he said that it was incredible that it would take 70 to 72 minutes to get from the capital of Serbia to Subotica, in the far north of the country.

"It's now exactly 11:35, and we need 70 to 72 minutes. Unbelievable," Vucic commented at the start of his trip today.

As he explained, in order for everything to be in line with the law, it is necessary for five days to pass from today, before the railway is opened to traffic.

"We will put it into service on Wednesday at noon. There must be a break of five days for reasons unknown to me. That's how it must be according to the law," said Vucic.

The president said that the revenue from the railways is growing but each new kilometer built increases the overall price.

Vucic stated that there are currently enough investments in Serbia's railways and as well as subsidies.

"We are not able to make money, not even close. I believe that, in the coming period, we will develop (improve) railway traffic to Montenegro, to Bar," said the president.

Vucic added that the construction of the railway network in Serbia started in 1854 and reminded that at that time, horse-drawn engines were used to pull trains.

During a conversation with Chinese Ambassador Li Ming, Vucic said that not only the construction of one or two important railways, but the entire network, is of the greatest importance for Serbia.

"It isn't always necessary to build high-speed railways, regular ones can do. And we should work on that," said Vucic.

Now work is being done to secure enough money to build and reconstruct several lines, among which are those between Pancevo, Opovo, Zrenjanin, then Kikinda, Subotica, Sombor, and reconnection with Vrbas.

"That would be of the greatest importance for all of us,"said Vucic.

When asked about some media reporting that the Novi Sad-Subotica section is being "secretly" opened, Vucic said this if this was done with a big ceremony, they would have said that was in poor taste and without regard to what happened 11 months ago (the collapse of the Novi Sad railway station canopy).

"When you do it with less fanfare, then you're doing it 'secretly'. I guess they (anti-government forces) don't think any longer that people can't go to places in this country and that they can threaten them like they used to, since I went to all those places they said I couldn't," said Vucic.

The president also remarked that more trains will be bought and that they will all be top of the line.

"We already have Stadler trains, we will have Chinese and some Spanish ones, they will all be the most modern trains," said Vucic.

(Telegraf Biznis/Tanjug)