Serbia recorded a sharp increase in railway passenger traffic during the first half of 2026, while freight indicators showed weaker and more mixed performance across transport modes. Rail passenger numbers increased 24.8% year on year, with domestic passenger traffic rising 25.3%.
- Passenger rail records stronger traffic growth
- Freight volumes increase while tonne-kilometres decline
- Road freight remains broadly flat
- River transport records 15.6% decline
- Air cargo expands from smaller base
- Freight infrastructure requires wider network connections
- Overall goods transport remains subdued
Rail freight volume grew by 6.5%, but freight work measured in tonne-kilometres declined 2.7%. The combination indicates that rail transported more goods while covering fewer total freight kilometres. The results come amid Serbia’s extensive investment in railway infrastructure, including higher-speed passenger services, rolling stock and reconstruction of key corridors.
Passenger rail records stronger traffic growth
The increase in passenger numbers reflects higher use of Serbia’s railway network during the first half of the year. Domestic passenger traffic increased at a similar pace, rising 25.3%, while total rail passenger traffic grew 24.8%.
Rail infrastructure investment has included faster passenger services, rolling-stock improvements and reconstruction of major routes. Increased passenger use also affects connections between cities and urban corridors where improved railway services are available. Passenger transport represents one component of Serbia’s wider railway investment programme, which also targets freight connections between Central Europe, the Balkans and southern ports.
Freight volumes increase while tonne-kilometres decline
Rail freight performance was significantly weaker than passenger growth Goods transported by rail increased 6.5%, but freight work fell 2.7%. This means the railway system moved a larger quantity of goods while the total distance represented by those shipments decreased.
The figures can reflect changes in the composition of freight, including increased domestic industrial movements or shorter regional shipments. They can also result from changes in longer-distance international cargo flows or the types of commodities transported. The first-half data therefore show an increase in rail freight tonnage without a corresponding increase in the total distance covered by freight.
Road freight remains broadly flat
Road transport also recorded limited freight growth. Road freight volumes increased by only 0.9%, while road freight work declined approximately 1%. The figures show subdued freight activity across both road and rail rather than a simple transfer of cargo from trucks to trains.
Transport demand is affected by manufacturing, trade, construction and commodity movements, with changes in industrial activity influencing both cargo volumes and the distances goods travel. For logistics operators, tonne-kilometres are particularly relevant because vehicle utilisation and travelled distances affect transport activity.
River transport records 15.6% decline
Inland waterway freight recorded the largest decline among the transport modes covered, falling 15.6% year on year. The Danube is used for the movement of grain, fuels, metals, construction materials and other bulk commodities. River transport can be affected by navigability conditions, including low water levels that restrict vessel loading, while terminal capacity and infrastructure can also influence the reliability of inland shipping. A reduction in Danube freight can consequently affect the movement of bulk goods and the balance between river, road and rail transport.
Air cargo expands from smaller base
Air freight developed in the opposite direction from inland navigation. Cargo volumes increased 23.7%, while air freight work measured in tonne-kilometres rose 37.6%. Air cargo remains smaller than road, rail and river transport, but the increase occurred alongside higher total freight distances. Air transport is used for goods where delivery speed is important, including electronics, automotive components, pharmaceuticals and other time-sensitive industrial products.
Freight infrastructure requires wider network connections
Serbia’s transport investment has included major railway and motorway projects designed to remove infrastructure bottlenecks. For freight, however, the wider logistics network also depends on direct rail access to industrial zones, efficient intermodal terminals, reliable freight schedules and border procedures.
Connections between manufacturing facilities and major transport corridors can determine whether companies are able to use rail rather than road for particular shipments. River terminals and port infrastructure also form part of the logistics network supporting bulk cargo movements along the Danube.
Overall goods transport remains subdued
Across the transport modes covered, overall goods volumes declined approximately 0.5%, while total freight work fell around 3% during the first half of 2026. The transport data show different trends by mode: passenger rail traffic increased sharply, air cargo expanded, rail freight tonnage grew while tonne-kilometres declined, road freight remained broadly stable and inland waterway freight fell significantly. The figures provide a mixed picture of freight activity alongside the stronger increase in railway passenger use.
