**** beware night train from belgrade to budapest ****

lancs
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3 reviews
**** beware night train from belgrade to budapest ****
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Just wanted to warn anyone wishing to take the night train from Belgrade to Budapest to be extremely careful. We are experienced travelers but were a little worried about a night train and if it would be safe. We were pleasantly surprised upon boarding to find a helpful guard who showed us to our sleeper cabin and brought us sheets and pillows. He took our tickets off us which we thought a little odd, but when i questioned him he said he needed to keep them and would give them back before we got to Budapest so not to worry. There were only myself and my boyfriend in one cabin, 2 elderly hungarian women next door, 2 young chinese lads on the other side of us and 1 chinese man next to them. Our door had a lock which appeared very secure and a curtain to pull over that so no one could see into your cabin. We felt very happy about going to sleep there and felt safe.

Our door was locked tight and we fell asleep once our passports had been checked entering Hungary.

Imagine our horror to awaken almost at Budapest to find our cabin door open and money missing from my handbag which had been on the floor but right next to our heads. We were very distressed and my boyfriend went to find the 'guard'. He just shrugged his shoulders and then couldn't speak any english at all!!! The 2 young chinese lads had their room broken into too, and their mobile phones and passports stolen. The guard was equally unhelpful to them.

After thinking about this non stop over several days, we are convinced it was the guard who stole the items. We think he must be able to open the cabin doors from the outside whilst people are sleeping. He also returned our train tickets to us before we left the train, but they weren't the tickets i had given him and were infact out of date hand written ones!

I have put this post, not to scare people, but to make you aware that if you are taking the night train please take extra precautions to secure your cabin door so that this will hopefully not happen to anyone else.

U.K.
Destination Expert
for Belgrade
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16,058 posts
1 review
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1. Re: **** beware night train from belgrade to budapest ****
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Thanks for the warning, you should report this to the authorities and explain your concerns about the guard.

Has the door got any facility to lock yourself in? Maybe if one took a small padlock or something on the journey? It seems odd to have a door that a guard could open if you don't want him too, there should be some internal locking device?

Stoofer

Skane County, Sweden
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2. Re: **** beware night train from belgrade to budapest ****
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Same thing happend to me, but it was 15 years ago! So...it's still the same Maffia on the trains. The staff work together with external criminals who gets on the trains and then leaving again at another station.

Paris, France
1 post
3. Re: **** beware night train from belgrade to budapest ****
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On the Budapest Belgrade, the railway man (sorry for my bad english) asked us to barricade ourselves in the two person sleeper compartement because, he said "there are dangerous criminals in Hungaria" that might board on the train and rob us. I had tried my best to be reassuring towards my girlfriend before we started this trip and when that happened her face turned completely white, and I admit I didn't sleep well either.

It was not only about locking the door but also about using a metal bar to reinforce the door and preventing any move from the handle. Besides, the conductor began by saying to us minutes after we boarded : "do not go to sleep, this is dangerous" and we then had to wait approx. one hour to get his "advices". All that makes a bizarre atmosphere so I think people should be warned.

U.K.
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for Belgrade
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4. Re: **** beware night train from belgrade to budapest ****
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Sounds horrific, I haven't been on the night train for donkey's years. It's hard for me to comment except to think that this guard was totally out of order, if it's that bad then he, the rail team and authorities should be ensuring safety. It is an international line and Hungary is in the EU. I take it after this advice you saw or heard of no worrying incidents?

Not doubting your experience at all but have to say there are certain situations and a atmosphere in this region that some more western European visitors can regard as menacing when it's often quite innocent, it's possible the guard was playing on this but for sure there are occasional safety issues so far as theft is concerned so locking up tight is good advice.

I've been moving to and from Budapest from Belgrade since long before Hungary joined NATO let alone the EU, the border guards used to be a bit unfriendly, even hostlie but I've had no real issues with authorities or the local people in terms of friendliness or safety.

These are just my rambling thoughts on a few very worrying reports, as I said I haven't used the service in recent years, I know several who do and they've had no issues but your warning is a good heads-uip .....I would like to get more information from this guard as something sounds very wrong with how he is informing passengers IMO.

Stoofer

Sydney, Australia
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2,997 posts
4 reviews
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5. Re: **** beware night train from belgrade to budapest ****
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What a frightening experience, it's good that you posted to warn others.

Bit late now, but a money belt probably would have been more secure, than bag on the floor.

But then again, who would think that someone would come into a locked carriage.

London, United...
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8 posts
39 reviews
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6. Re: **** beware night train from belgrade to budapest ****
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Sorry to hear about your incident Sperklygerbil.

I went the opposite direction on my first experience of the night train, from Budapest to Beograd.

I wanted to go on a shoestring budget, and I went 3rd Class. It was very empty most of the way, and I was a little bit scared, not knowing where I was and found myself sitting upright on a train seat most of the journey, as I was paranoid about having someone going through my bag too.

I found locals boarding and disembarking through out the night, and the numerous boarder controls didn't help as my passport was taken off the train for a short period. This was VERY odd I thought.

I managed to get to Beograd at 06:05 without any hiccups but I was very tried and did have a stiff neck too.

But it was an experience I will never forget. The best part was seeing the sunrise over the Serbian countryside on a lovely June Morning. I hope to plan another journey on this train in the future,

I hope your stay in Budapest and Beograd were amazing :)

Kirkwood, Missouri
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14 posts
2 reviews
7. Re: **** beware night train from belgrade to budapest ****
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Does this line stop in Novi Sad? I am planning to take the train from Novi Sad to Budapest in April...

Belgrade, Serbia
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281 posts
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8. Re: **** beware night train from belgrade to budapest ****
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Hi Ryan,

yes it does, about 1:30h-1:45h after it departs from Belgrade.

Cheers!

Kirkwood, Missouri
Level Contributor
14 posts
2 reviews
9. Re: **** beware night train from belgrade to budapest ****
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Thank you! And uh oh...Any suggestions? Sleep with my passport and money under my head? Do people get hurt on this route, or just have their things taken?

London, United...
1 post
10. Re: **** beware night train from belgrade to budapest ****
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Quick question for people who have done this train route. IS there someone on the train to take bikes?

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