Belgrade-Bar Railway: Scenic Train Travel Guide

The Belgrade-Bar railway is a roughly 476 km single-track line between Belgrade Centre and the Adriatic port of Bar. About 301 km lie in Serbia and 175 km in Montenegro, while a short stretch touches Bosnia and Herzegovina at Štrpci station. It is built to standard gauge and electrified throughout with 25 kV, 50 Hz AC. The train climbs from the plains into the mountains of Montenegro before dropping to the sea. Because published figures can change, where details are missing we honestly say: we don't know. (Source: Wikipedia, Wikivoyage)

The route's icon is the Mala Rijeka Viaduct, about 20-25 km north of Podgorica. Roughly 498.8 metres long, the bridge rises around 200 metres above the Mala Rijeka River and is the longest structure on the line. Built between 1969 and 1973, it was the highest railway bridge in the world when finished and held that record until 2001. The train does not slow down as it crosses, so keep your camera ready. Because conditions vary, where details are missing we honestly say: we don't know. (Source: Wikipedia, Wikivoyage)

The decision to link Belgrade and Bar was made in 1952 as a national project of socialist Yugoslavia. Construction finished on 27 November 1975 when the tracks were joined south of Kolašin, and the line officially opened on 28 May 1976. Cutting hundreds of tunnels and bridges through steep mountains made it one of the most demanding engineering feats of its era. Because some construction details are limited in the sources, we honestly say: we don't know. (Source: Wikipedia, Wikivoyage)

Along the route there are 254 tunnels totalling about 114,435 metres, plus more than 435 bridges and viaducts. The longest tunnels are Sozina and Zlatibor, each roughly 6.17 km. The highest point sits around 1,032 metres above sea level near Kolašin; over a short distance the line drops to 40 metres at Podgorica, where the gradient reaches 25 per mille. Because individual technical figures can differ between sources, where details are missing we honestly say: we don't know. (Source: Wikipedia, Wikivoyage)

The full trip between Belgrade and Bar usually takes 10 to 11 hours, including border checks. The most striking mountain scenery is in Montenegro, between Bijelo Polje and Bar; heading south sit on the right, heading north sit on the left. The daytime Tara train and the overnight Lovćen run at different times, so choose your direction to catch the light. As there is no reliable dining car, bring your own food and drink. Because timetables can change, where details are missing we honestly say: we don't know. (Source: Wikipedia, Wikivoyage)