Sva sreca pa EUropljani nisu gradili po 2-3x vecim cenama.
### Comparison of the Belgrade-Subotica High-Speed Rail Project
The Belgrade-Subotica high-speed rail project in Vojvodina, Serbia, spans approximately 183 km of mostly flat agricultural terrain, with minimal elevation changes, some river crossings, and design speeds up to 200 km/h. Its total construction cost is estimated at €1.878 billion (based on contract awards), equating to about **€10.27 million per km** (or ~$11.2 million per km at 2025 exchange rates). This includes track laying, electrification, signaling (ETCS Level 2), viaducts, and basic stations but excludes major land acquisition or tunneling, which are low in this region.
To compare, I've selected similar projects: high-speed or upgraded rail lines of roughly 100-200 km in length, primarily in flat or low-relief terrain (e.g., plains, lowlands, or agricultural areas), with comparable speeds (160-250 km/h). These are drawn from European and global examples where costs are well-documented and terrain avoids significant mountains or dense urban areas. Costs are infrastructure-only (track, electrification, signaling; excluding major stations unless bundled) and adjusted to approximate 2025 euros for fairness (using ~2% annual inflation from reported years). The Serbian project's low cost reflects Chinese financing, lower labor/wages, and simpler procurement, making it notably cheaper than Western European peers despite similar terrain.
#### Key Comparable Projects
| Project | Country | Length (km) | Terrain Description | Total Cost (€ million) | Cost per km (€ million) | Completion Year | Notes |
|---------|---------|-------------|----------------------|------------------------|-------------------------|-----------------|-------|
| **Belgrade-Subotica (Reference)** | Serbia | 183 | Flat Vojvodina plains; agricultural, minor rivers | 1,878 | 10.3 | 2024 | Financed by China; 200 km/h; low land costs. |
| **LGV Bretagne-Pays de la Loire** | France | 182 | Flat western plains; coastal lowlands, few viaducts | 3,400 (2015; ~3,800 adj.) | 20.9 | 2017 | 320 km/h capable; minimal tunnels; EU co-funded. |
| **LGV Sud Europe Atlantique (Bordeaux-Tours section)** | France | ~300 (full; ~150 flat core) | Flat Aquitaine basin; agricultural, some wetlands | 7,200 (2010s; ~8,000 adj.) | 26.7 (overall; ~22 flat) | 2017 | 320 km/h; viaducts ~20%; excludes urban ends. |
| **Erfurt-Leipzig/Halle** | Germany | 120 | Flat Thuringian plain; some bridges, no major tunnels | 2,967 (2010s; ~3,300 adj.) | 27.5 | 2015 | 300 km/h; upgraded sections; cost includes minor structures. |
| **HSL-Zuid** | Netherlands | 125 | Flat Rhine Delta lowlands; polders, flood-prone | 11,000 (2000s; ~13,000 adj.) | 104.0 | 2009 | 300 km/h; high due to environmental mitigations, land reclamation. |
| **Venta de Baños-León** | Spain | ~150 (segment) | Flat Castilian plateau; open farmland | ~1,350 (2010s; ~1,500 adj.) | 10.0 | 2015 | 350 km/h; one of Europe's cheapest HSR; minimal obstacles. |
#### Analysis and Insights
- **Cost Range in Flat Terrain**: Across these projects, costs for flat-terrain HSR/upgrades typically range from €10-30 million per km in efficient markets (e.g., Spain, France's low-relief lines), rising to €25-50 million in Germany due to stricter environmental regs and labor costs, and €80+ in the Netherlands from flood defenses and dense infrastructure. The Serbian line aligns with the low end, comparable to Spain's Venta de Baños-León, but undercuts French/German examples by 50-75%—likely due to lower Serbian wages (~€500/month vs. €2,500+ in Western Europe) and Chinese EPC contracting efficiencies.
- **Why Variations?**
- **Labor and Procurement**: Western Europe averages 2-3x higher wages; Serbia benefits from Belt and Road Initiative standardization.
- **Environmental/Land**: Flat terrain keeps earthworks low everywhere (~€2-5M/km), but Dutch/Polish wetlands add €10-20M/km for drainage. Land in Vojvodina is cheap/agricultural, similar to Spanish plains.
- **Scope**: All include electrification/signaling; Serbian excludes premium stations (unlike HSL-Zuid's bundled costs).
- **Global Context**: For non-EU flat examples, China's Beijing-Tianjin (117 km, flat northern plains) cost ~€15M/km (2008; ~€20M adj.), while Morocco's Tangier-Casablanca (323 km, coastal plains) was ~€12M/km (2018)—closer to Serbia's figure.
Overall, the Belgrade-Subotica project's cost is exceptionally competitive for flat terrain, outperforming most European peers while matching emerging-market efficiencies. If replicated elsewhere in flat EU regions (e.g., Polish lowlands), it could benchmark ~€12-15M/km with local adjustments. For deeper dives, sources include EU Court of Auditors reports and Transit Costs Project databases.
I onda dodju ovakvi glupani i pricaju neke neproverene nebuloze i kompromituju drugu stranu.