CONSTRUCTION of 7km of additional track and three new stations on the busy Kelenföld - Ferencváros line in Budapest has started following formal approval last month from Hungary’s Ministry of Construction and Transport (EKM).
An additional track will be added to the double-track section between Kelenföld and the River Danube, where new bridges are already in place. From there to Ferencváros a new pair of tracks will be added to the existing double track.
Two new stations will be built at Nádorkert and Közvágóhíd, with a third to be added at Népliget beyond Ferencváros.
This European Union (EU)-funded Forints 338bn ($US 963m) upgrade of Budapest’s Southern Ring line has faced a number of hurdles over the last two years, including sustained challenges from environmental campaigners.
The Hungarian government has now classified the project as being a strategic defence development in response to the war in Ukraine, which rules out further challenges. The main contractor is V-Híd and completion is expected in 2027.
S-Bahn-style suburban services are envisaged along the line, which may continue to Kőbánya-Kispest, Rákos and beyond on lines 80a/120a, and to Esztergom and Rákospalota-Újpest and beyond on lines 70/71.
In addition to the new S-Bahn services, the increased capacity on the line is expected to benefit inter-city and cross-border passenger and freight services. As part of the project, three existing bridges that form part of the elevated line passing above the streets of southern Buda will be replaced.
The current double-track line is the main artery between the east and the west of the country and includes Hungary’s busiest rail bridge.
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