The history of railway in Serbia
1878.
The term “railway” or more precisely, “iron road” was first mentioned in the Serbian language in the 1830s in the “Serbian National Newspaper” published in Vienna. The initial surveys and plans for building a railway through Serbia were conducted in the mid-19th century, but the first serious indications that Serbia would construct a railway appeared in 1878.
1880.
At the Berlin Congress, Serbia committed to building a railway, while Austria-Hungary pledged to connect its railway network with the newly built Serbian line. The convention between Serbia and Austria-Hungary on their mutual obligation to construct the railway was signed on April 9, 1880. The deadline for building and connecting the two railway networks was set for June 15, 1880, with a bridge over the Sava River designated as the connecting point.
1881.
The convention also specified the track gauge, types of rolling stock, minimum speed, minimum number of trains, and provisions regarding the bridge, station, and customs. In February 1881, Serbia signed a convention with the General Union Company from Paris to build the railway from Belgrade to Nis and later to Vranje. On June 21 (Julian calendar), the construction of the first Serbian railway ceremoniously began near the Mokroluska River bridge, close to Topcider Road, near today’s “Mostar” area.
1882.
In the middle of the swamp, the Prince of Serbia, the Princess, and members of the government gathered. Prince Milan ceremonially began the construction by digging three times with a silver shovel, following a religious service led by Metropolitan Mihailo.
Construction continued earnestly until early 1882 when the General Union went bankrupt. The construction halted, and the Ministry of Finance, through its representatives in Paris, tried to salvage what they could, as all the funds held by the Union could fall into the hands of creditors. A new company, the “National Discount Comptoir,” was found to take over the obligations of the General Union.
On March 29 (Julian calendar) in Belgrade, a new contract was signed between the Ministry of Finance of the Kingdom of Serbia and the representatives of the National Discount Comptoir, transferring the 1881 Convention. The railway construction resumed.
Parallel to the railway construction, there was also a focus on training personnel. Future railway workers were specifically educated, initially at a railway school founded in 1881 by Franjo Vizek and Wilhelm Tomic with special government permission. Later, the best students from this school went on to further training in Belgium and Italy.
1884.
The first train to depart from the newly built Belgrade station was the royal train on August 20, 1884 (Julian calendar), with King Milan and his family travelling to Vienna. This event marked the opening of the Belgrade – Sava Bridge – Zemun – Budapest line.
Just three days later, on August 23 (Julian calendar, September 3 Gregorian calendar), the Belgrade-Niš railway line was officially opened.
At 8:30 and 8:34 AM, after a ceremonial service led by Metropolitan Teodosije, two ceremonially decorated trains, each consisting of nine cars, departed for Niš.
The first train carried members of the French administration and foreign guests, while the second carried members of the Serbian government.
The first regular passenger train from Belgrade to Niš was dispatched on September 3 (Julian calendar), i.e., September 15, 1884 (Gregorian calendar). Freight traffic on the newly built railway was established fourteen days later.
In commemoration of the beginning of regular railway passenger traffic in Serbia, September 15 is celebrated as Railwaymen’s Day.
The Railway Museum Gallery in Belgrade has approximately 190 m² of exhibition space, where the following can be organized: group and solo exhibitions, book promotions, children’s workshops, theater performances, various professional seminars, presentations, and lectures.