Belgrade’s planned airport rail connection has reached another milestone: Chinese manufacturer CRRC Changchun has presented the first electric multiple unit from a nine-train order intended to serve Nikola Tesla Airport and the EXPO 2027 area. The trains have not yet entered passenger service.
What was presented in China?
A factory acceptance ceremony took place in Changchun on 12 October 2026. The new trains are designed for Belgrade’s urban and suburban rail network, including the planned airport and National Stadium connection. Each 63.2-metre train is designed to carry up to 380 passengers and operate at speeds of up to 120 km/h. The nine-train procurement contract is valued at €73.98 million, according to Serbia’s Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure.
The trains carry EXPO 2027 branding, but the railway is intended to remain in use after the exhibition. The branding is temporary; the transport investment is intended to provide a lasting airport connection.
Where will the airport train run?
The new double-track railway section runs for approximately 18.3 kilometres from Zemun Polje via Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport and Surčin toward the National Stadium, close to the exhibition site. It will connect to the existing Belgrade rail network, allowing services toward Belgrade Centre (Prokop).
On 7 October, Serbian officials inspected an approximately 11-kilometre section between Zemun Polje and the airport. Officials said construction of the whole new section was expected to finish by the end of 2026, with passenger services targeted for March or April 2027. Those are projected dates, not a confirmed public timetable.
How long will it take from Belgrade Centre to the airport?
Officials have described an approximately 20-minute trip between Belgrade Centre and the airport once services begin. The actual timetable, frequency, fares and exact opening date have not yet been published as final passenger information. Travellers should not assume that the rail connection is operating today.
The airport station is part of a wider route designed to improve access to the National Stadium and the EXPO area. It is not the same as the high-speed Belgrade–Budapest railway project.
What will EXPO 2027 visitors need to know?
EXPO 2027 Belgrade is scheduled for 15 May to 15 August 2027, under the theme “Play for Humanity – Sport and Music for All.” Visitors should check official transport announcements closer to the event. An airport rail connection could make arrival more convenient, but booking and journey planning must be based on confirmed services rather than construction targets.
Related SRBIJA NEWS reporting
- Serbian report: first EXPO 2027 train completed in China and delivery expectations
- The 18.3-kilometre airport and EXPO rail construction project
- Belgrade–Budapest rail service: what is known
- Belgrade in 48 hours: practical visitor guide
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Sources and verification
- Serbian Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure: procurement of nine trains
- Government of Serbia, 7 October 2026: construction progress and expected opening
- RTS/Tanjug, 12 October 2026: factory acceptance ceremony
Editorial note: the featured image is an archive railway illustration, not a photograph of the new CRRC EXPO train. Updated 22 October 2026.
Sources & corrections
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