Currently, there are no trains between Serbia and Kosovo. In the past, there were passenger services between both countries, both travel from Belgrade to Kosovo was very slow and complicated – at least 2 transfers and unbearable heat in trains during summer (trains were often cancelled during heatwaves). Due to political tensions there is no chance to reinstate passenger trains in the nearest future.
Last updated: 21.06.2024
Railway border crossings:
(- Kraljevo) Lešak – Rudnica ŽS – – Zvečan – Mitrovicë/Mitrovica
Merdare ŽS – Podujevo
In the past, there were two trains daily from Kraljevo to Kosovska Mitrovica sever operated by Železnice Srbije (now Srbijavoz) via Zvečan in each direction.
In January 2017 the new station Kosovska Mitrovica sever was opened, but the first train from Belgrade to Kosovska Mitrovica was painted in the colours of the Serbian flag and bearing the words “Kosovo is Serbian”. Eventually the Serbian authorities stopped the train in Raska, just before the Kosovo border. The incident raised tensions in both countries but trains ran regularly.
In March 2020, due to Covid-19 pandemic, trains from Kraljevo were shortened to Rudnica.
As far as I know, passenger trains Kraljevo – Kosovska Mitrovica sever were not reinstated until today.
In 2020 there were negotiations about launching direct passenger train from Belgrade to Priština but due to pandemic plans were abandoned. Two routes were considered:
Beograd–Lapovo–Kragujevac–Kraljevo–Priština (366 km)
Beograd–Lapovo–Niš–Doljevac–Kuršumlija–Priština (388 km)
Railway border crossing Merdare ŽS – Podujevo is currently out of use. In the past, passenger trains from Niš to Priština covered the distance of 153 km in 4 hours and 20 minutes.
In Kosovo, a reconstruction of the railway line from the country’s border with Serbia in the north to the border with North Macedonia in the south is ongoing. The reconstruction and modernisation take place in three stages:
Stage 1: the rehabilitation of 67 km of railway track and 13 railways stations and stops, from Fushë Kosovë/Kosovo Polje in Kosovo’s capital, Pristina, to the country’s border with North Macedonia.
Stage 2: the rehabilitation of 35 km of railway track, 5 railway stations, and 5 stops from Fushë Kosovë/Kosovo Polje to Mitrovicë/Mitrovica.
Stage 3: the reconstruction of the railway line from Mitrovicë/Mitrovica to the border with Serbia.
The rehabilitation will allow to increase passenger and freight travel speeds up to 120 km/h.
The modernised railway line should be completed by 2027 but I assume that the completion will be delayed.
Related articles:
Train travel in Kosovo – an essential guide
Train travel in Serbia – a comprehensive guide
