Hungary–Serbia high-speed rail opens with Chinese steel structure expertise

A steel truss bridge on the Hungary-Serbia high-speed railway constructed with participation from China State Construction Steel Structure Jiangsu. [Photo/Taizhou Daily]

The Serbia section of the Hungary–Serbia high-speed railway, which was built with the involvement of China State Construction Steel Structure Jiangsu in the Jiangyin–Jingjiang Industrial Park, has now opened to traffic.

As Europe's first high-speed rail project constructed by a Chinese company, this railway acts as a flagship for China–Central and Eastern Europe cooperation and exemplifies the integration of Chinese technology with EU standards.

Stretching 341.7 kilometers from Budapest, Hungary, to Belgrade, Serbia, the railway reduces travel time between the two capitals from eight hours to three hours.

China State Construction Steel Structure Jiangsu played a key role in the K81 steel truss bridge segment, which includes nearly 1,300 metric tons of single-span bridges. These bridges have a pushing distance over 150 meters and a maximum span of 46 meters. "This is the largest-span bridge in the project to fully employ Chinese launching technology," said Ma Chunyu, production manager for the K81 section.

The launching process integrated synchronized control with hydraulic jacking technology. A computer system constantly monitored pressure and movement to ensure steady advancement.

Achieving precise placement of the bridge after launching was a challenge because all 504 bolt holes connecting it to supports and dampers needed perfect alignment. The project team used several integrated techniques and considered temperature effects to ensure accurate positioning and secure connections.

"The opening of the railway not only improves travel for local residents but also cultivates a team of internationally skilled engineers," said Liu Lu, chief engineer for the company's European operations.