After several decades of trying to include Veliki Bečkerek, the county centre, in the railway bloodstream of the monarchy, on July 8, 1883, the Velika Kikinda (Nagykikinda) – Veliki Bečkerek (Nagybecskerek) vicinal railway was opened, for a speed of 45 kilometres per hour. Due to the high traffic, it was increased to 60 kilometres per hour in the early thirties of the 20th century and was declared a second-class main line.
It was the first vicinal line in Torontal County, maintained by the Velika Kikinda – Veliki Bečkerek Railway Company (1882). The Law on the Construction of the Line from 1881, in addition to other parameters, also defined the fundamental provisions regarding railway facilities. According to the Law, the construction of buildings on this route should have been reduced to a minimum. It was also planned that the reception buildings would be built of brick and the guardhouses of mixed material or adobe. Warehouses for goods were to be made of wood with brick foundations, while garages for locomotives with walls of wooden construction and filling. It was necessary to build one guardhouse every 4 km. The station buildings, except at the stops, had two waiting rooms. Space for public facilities, such as the post office, telegraph service, police, and army, were not obliged to provide at the stations. A warehouse for goods was provided at each station. Engineer Molnár Mihály designed the Veliki Bečkerek railway station. It is assumed that he was also in charge of adapting standard projects to specific locations.
Notable personalities of that era also arrived at this station. Among others, at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, Franz Ferdinand, enchanted by the Torontal hunting grounds, visited it several times. On his first arrival, in November 1898, at the railway station, according to the local press, he was warmly welcomed by an eminent audience of Torontal County (Németh 2003: 36).
On March 20, 1882, during a political tour of the future Velika Kikinda–Veliki Bečkerek route, the area next to the Aradac gate was designated as the site of the railway station in Veliki Bečkerek (Anonymous 1882: 12).
The reception building was a one-story building with accentuated side risalits. Characteristic elements of railway architecture are also present in this building: oculus, stone and brick imitation in mortar, brick decoration. The central body towards the rails was enriched with a porch. Later, a one-story railway station was built next to this existing reception building, almost identical to the Veliki Bečkerek–Obala Begeja station.
The railway station in today’s Zrenjanin was abolished during the 20th century. There are social apartments, and the building is not adequately maintained.
