Swiss high-speed train arrives in Serbia

NEWS 29.10.202112:29 0 komentara
Tanjug / Miloš Milivojević

The train for speeds of up to 200 kilometres per hour on the modernised Belgrade-Novi Sad line, bought from the Swiss company Stadler Rail, was handed over to Serbia's railway company on Friday.

Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic, former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and Swiss Ambassador Urs Schmid witnessed the handover of the first of the three purchased trains at the New Belgrade railway station.

Tanjug / Miloš Milivojević

The remaining two Stadler high-speed trains should be delivered to Serbia by the end of the year.

Vucic said the new train would transport passengers from March next year.

He added the at a speed of 200 kilometres per hour, the ride from Belgrade to Novi Sad would last half an hour. The ticket will cost 1,000 dinars (8.5 euros).

That section is part of the high-speed railway from Belgrade to Budapest. Its construction began at the end of 2017 as a part of the Chinese initiative „Belt and Road,“ the strategic goal of that country to connect the Greek port of Piraeus with Central Europe and Hungary as one of the EU countries.

Vucic said that high-speed trains would also run to the southern city of Nis, the southeastern town of Nis, Dimitrovgrad, the southern town of Presevo and other parts of Serbia.

The contract for purchasing those three trains was signed on April 8 in Belgrade. The only bidder in the tender was the Swiss ‘Stadler’ for 62.2 million euros.

The trains have 316 seats for the first and second class, internet, a unique space for the disabled and are adapted for people with reduced mobility.

Swiss Ambassador to Belgrade Urs Schmid said that he was „pleased to say that today’s event joins a series of successful Swiss-Serbian stories.“ He added that Switzerland and Serbia were celebrating 30 years of cooperation in 2021.

„What began with humanitarian aid in challenging times, in 1991, has developed over the years into comprehensive bilateral cooperation. Through numerous projects, we support the efforts of the Government of Serbia on the introduction of innovations and modernisation, „he added.

The representative of Stadler Rail, Peter Schuler, said the company was „very proud and happy“ about the delivery to Serbia.

„We have sold more than 500 such trains in 12 countries. This train is very innovative; the maximum speed is 200 kilometres per hour, it has a lot of special facilities for passengers,“ Schuler said.

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