The renewal of the HÉV suburban rail system in Budapest has been promised by successive governments for years, but until now, little tangible progress has been made. With the tender process finally under way, Budapest’s commuters may at last see signs of change — though they will have to wait some more.
Minister Lázár promised they arrive to Budapest in 2027
Although Hungary’s Minister for Construction and Transport, János Lázár, announced earlier this year that the first new HÉV suburban trainsets could arrive by 2027, the Hungarian State Railways (MÁV) has now confirmed that passengers will likely have to wait two more years.
In a statement posted on Wednesday, MÁV’s CEO Zsolt Hegyi revealed that the long-promised procurement of new, low-floor trains has officially begun, with the first units expected to enter service by the end of 2029.
Looks like we will have to wait more
According to Hegyi, MÁV plans to purchase 54 modern trainsets, each capable of carrying around 600 passengers. The first 18 must be delivered and operational by 31 December 2029, a deadline driven by the strict rules governing the use of EU development funds.
The project will be financed partly through the IKOP Plus programme, one of the few European funding sources not suspended for Hungary, writes Telex.
Back in May, Minister Lázár had promised that the first 18 trains would arrive in 2027. Two months later, he mentioned plans to expand the procurement to 54 vehicles, yet at that point, no tender had been launched.
MÁV’s latest announcement therefore marks an important milestone — the long-delayed project is finally moving forward, even if the modernisation will take several more years.
Where will the new trains be in service?
The new trains are expected to serve the H5 line, which connects Szentendre with Batthyány Square in central Budapest — one of the busiest commuter rail routes in the capital. The modern, air-conditioned, low-floor trains will not only offer greater comfort but also improve travel times and reliability.
Currently, many of the HÉV trains still in operation are over 50 years old, and their replacement has become increasingly urgent. Although MÁV has continued to maintain the old rolling stock to keep the service running, Hegyi admitted that this is no longer sustainable.
Several ageing trains will need to be withdrawn from service in the coming years, making the new procurement vital to ensure uninterrupted operations.
This just “Feeds” into the gargantuan FAILINGS, the in-ability of PRIORITIZATION into the FUTURE, over the time (16) sixteen years this Fidesz Government, under the leadership, the Prime minister of Hungary – Victor Mihaly. Orban – the LACK of investment of what are – NEED’s of the daily life of Hungarians, being Public TRANSPORTATION.
Hev suburban trains – a purchase in the time Hungary, under Governance of Russia and in major percentage are Out of Date truly passed their used by date.
Orban, his Fidesz Government lets build another sporting arena exampled taking precedent through total FAILURE in the prioritization – in the use of the taxes of the people paid to the Orban led Fidesz Government – in the NEED’s in the daily lives of Hungarians.
Appalling.
“The first 18 must be delivered and operational by 31 December 2029, a deadline driven by the strict rules governing the use of EU development funds.”
And that, ladies and gentlemen, sums it up. China builds an entire subway system in less than five years while we can’t even get a dozen trains deployed.
Europe, under the appalling mismanagement of the E.U. behemoth, is dying. The continent produces nothing, is overregulated, suffers from potentially irreversible societal decay, and is fast hurtling toward authoritarianism.
Good thing we get those cookie warnings on websites and the caps are now attached to our soda bottles!
Why you don’t go and live in China then?
about authoritarianism, do you refer to Orbán? 😀