Serbia/Bosnia-Herzegovina: A train connects former enemies | European Journal

Historically, the train link between Belgrade and Sarajevo was probably the most important one in the Balkans. Today the service lacks some of the comforts of yesteryear.The restaurant car is Serbian, but both of the other cars are Bosnian: one comes from the Serb-dominated political entity Republika Srpska while the other is from the Muslim-Croat Federation. The locomotive is changed every time the train crosses the border, slowing down the trip significantly. But the new train connection is symbolic -- showing that the former enemies are trying to improve their relationship.

[@jedrorm]

"We can never live together." Only because of you mate, only because of you.

[@Sonjayu]

+bbqroast He *DOESN'T SAY THAT!* He says that Muslims *don't trust* Serbs, like Croats don't trust Serbs and Serbs don't trust Croats. That has a *COMPLETELY DIFFERENT MEANING* than what this German Nazi shit propaganda is translating. I can't believe it. It is *preposterous!*.

[@robertsmith5744]

You do Not understand what he posted, simple. You actually agreed with him, helped him prove his point!

[@perosurvivor]

This is completely crazy, especially because these are locomotives of the same series (JŽ 441), made in the same factory (Rade Končar) and have the same voltage system. Of course, all of the locomotives were built while in the Yugoslav period...

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

Petar K. I feel sad all the time. At least these people can go between both countries this way at all.

[@Sonjayu]

+Christopher Sobieniak *They can go between by any way they goddamn want!*

[@MrTrainman73]

Thanks for the video. I have cousins in Croatia and Bosnia. I visited the cousin in Croatia in 2010 everyone there was nice and friendly wish I had time to visit those in Bosnia well next time when we go.Still never found out how Tito was able to hold it together. But when everyone get there new found freedom we start a war?Hope the train continues to improve .

[@Triplex5014]

People. listen carefully. This has no sense changing the locomotives, but btw our Balkan Republics should be friendly but it's very complicated to improve our relationship, except Croatia and Bosnia are in the best relationship. I'm from Croatia, Zagreb and I want to say something for the Railways generally in Balkan States. These Railways are BEAUTIFUL for railfans, there are many iconic locomotives and different types of them, the landscape around is beautiful, but to be an employee, for example on Croatian Railways, it's bad. The conditions are poor, safety is critical and trains are very often late, and the comfort is on a low level too, except a few passenger trains (Fast and IC trains) offer something better for comfort. Freight is so bad, only a few freight trains pass during the day on the whole CR (HŽ) network. I'm finishing the school for a train engineer (train driver) and I'm not sure am I gonna get a job on my Railway, and that's the reason I have to go somewhere else like Germany, Austria or Sweden. Many young people go away from Balkan States to work somewhere outside in the world to have their own money. We are in a very bad situation. When is it gonna be better? - I don't know.

[@mmaus688]

We are trying to bring back the times before war,but the politicians are stopping everything. I see it like this: "If im friendly to them,they will be friendly to me". But its not as simple as that.

[@Triplex5014]

Yeah, it ain't simple as that. We gotta do something about our countries.

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

Triplex5014 Makes me cry sometimes. Shame there can't be some Balkans-wide collaborative railway system agreed from all parties and could take you where you want to go between these countries.

[@RovexHD]

Triplex5014 And people say Croatia is better than it was under communism..

[@lukacavara6794]

Ljudi kome je ovo još u recommendedu!😂😅

[@conceyullena]

Great video!

[@randlofs]

The locomotive is actually an Rb-series locomotive built in Sweden, exported to the Balkans. This series of locomotive was most popular in the Balkans, while there were only 7 in Sweden.

[@Viddharto]

Actually, the changing of the locomotives doesn't have any symbolical meaning, it's a practice done in most ex-yugoslav countries. I'm Slovenian, and our international trains switch locomotives at all borders, despite the fact that we're in more or less good relations with all our neighbours. Heck, I witnessed a locomotive change on the ride from Switzerland to Germany.

[@a55tech]

+Vid Leskovar Is it because the tracks are different widths? Doesn't seem to be any other good reason to change?

[@riceuteneuer2678]

No, all the same tech.

[@riceuteneuer2678]

Arrangements are made for trains from Germany to drive all the way to Switzerland, and Austria though.

[@MrJakubina]

Diferent Voltage on the electric line

[@MightyRoos]

Instead of changing locos 3 times on route from Sarajevo to Belgrade, why don't they just operate 3 trains a day? Each rail organisation will get a turn on operating the route.

[@ibazulic]

@CrysLoveRomania89 that's why serbian railways did some modifications to their ASEAs in Romania. but never the less, these locomotives are almost certainly all from Koncar. the ZFBiH 441-9xx series was modernised in Koncar a couple of years ago, and all HZ locos were manufactured by Koncar according to the ASEA license. in former Yugoslavia only the 441-0xx series was made in Austria, all other series were made in Koncar.

[@ibazulic]

@CrysLoveRomania89 not romanian locos, but Koncar made, since Koncar zagreb had a license from ASEA to manufacture locos for the former republic.

[@MrMKH2010]

That, my friend, is called War.

[@AndreiTupolev]

give me a train you can open the windows on any day.

[@erikcortez1611]

This is ridiculous. Most of Europe fought each other from 1939-45 and; by 1965, I strongly suspect at least the NON communist nations were making a serious effort to work together. As ugly as they were: the civil wars between the different parts of Yugoslavia were nothing by comparison 20 odd years ago.

[@CrysLoveRomania89]

@HijenA yeah, possible. it looks like romanian locomotives made in romania [craiova]. we buy the license from sweden in the 70's. and majority balkans railroads companies have this kind of locomotive from romania ;)

[@BHgerilac]

I am from Bosnia and Herzegovina and betwen Srajevo - Mostar (federation of BIH) work new talgo and koncar trains like in european countries , we dont want to do recononections who u see on video up ahead. Railways of Federation

[@robertsmith5744]

??????????

[@AndreiTupolev]

They still allow smoking in the dining car?! :-o

[@riceuteneuer2678]

in 2010, yes

[@razvanlaurm]

Very good. Go to Romania by train, is very beautiful.

[@stratusbgd]

What do you now about Serbs? Did you have bad expiriance with them?

[@robertsmith5744]

Welcome yourselves to Europe !! Different cultures languages and variations of religion. Use the Euro as the main currency, please. Neighbor vs neighbor does Not make any sense. Peace and Love, ask Jesus........we are all here to help and love each other.

[@tp8150]

Cigarettes in trains ❤

[@xxwzaebd]

The train system appears to be too old. Here we buy tickets through Internet or (Internet connected) vending machines and now can choose seats that way on weekdays. Tickets are not stamped but attendance checked via PDA on train. The train windows don't open;they are sealed. I wouldn't get on such an old train.

[@Samo762]

oh the balkans

[@CrysLoveRomania89]

united countries with romanian locomotive ;) :D

[@AndreiIvanescuOficial]

Locomotivele nu sunt românești ;).

[@stratusbgd]

experiance*

[@zorankrilovic5275]

Ne postoji Beograd-Sarajevo linija