Nis-Leskovac Trains Resume Friday: 59-Minute Ride
After the 22.8-kilometer Nis-Brestovac section was rebuilt, regional trains between Nis and Leskovac will run every day, six pairs daily.
Can you ride a train from Nis to Leskovac again on a regular basis? Yes, from Friday, October 9, 2026. The ride takes about 59 minutes.
Serbian Railways Infrastructure announced on its website on October 7 that regular passenger service on the Nis-Leskovac line will be restored on Friday. The media reported the announcement the next day. The condition was met: the reconstruction and modernization of the Nis-Brestovac section, 22.8 kilometers long, is complete.
How often do trains run and where do they stop?
Six pairs of regional trains will run between Nis and Leskovac every day. They stop at all stations on the section, so no intermediate stops are skipped. Six pairs means twelve runs a day, six in each direction. For the whole route, count on about 59 minutes.
The maximum permitted speed is up to 120 kilometers per hour. Before the reconstruction it was much lower, as Serbian Railways Infrastructure states in its announcement:
- on some parts of the line the limit was 70 kilometers per hour at most,
- in some places, because of the condition of the infrastructure and traffic safety, slow-speed orders of 10 and 20 kilometers per hour were in force.
In other words, the upper limit rises from 70 to 120 kilometers per hour, and where trains had to crawl at 10 or 20, the difference is even bigger.
What exactly was done on the line?
The work was more than a repair of the existing state. The lower and upper structure of the line was renewed along with the related facilities, and new rails and sleepers were laid. A new overhead contact line was also built, modern signaling and safety equipment was installed, and lighting was added.
Eight new bridges were also built along the route. The longest crosses the South Morava and is 180 meters long.
Who paid and who built it?
The project was financed from European Union IPA funds and is worth more than 44 million euros. The work was carried out by the Bulgarian companies Trace Group Holding and Balkantel, chosen at an international tender under EU rules. According to the announcement on the company’s website, supervision was led by a consortium under Italian leadership.
What do we still not know before the first ride?
Two things remain open. First, the exact departure times still depend on the final adjustment of the timetable, so Serbian Railways Infrastructure does not list them in its announcement. Second, ticket prices have not been published in any of the sources we read.
So before you set out, check the timetable and the ticket price with the carrier. If you are traveling for work or an exam, allow time to get to the station too, because 59 minutes covers only the ride.
