A 2,500-tonne steel railway bridge has been lifted into place over Soroksári Road in Budapest as part of the ongoing Southern Circle Railway (Déli Körvasút) development, Transport and Investment Minister Dávid Vitézy announced on Facebook on Saturday.
Vitézy, who observed part of the installation on site, described the operation as a major milestone for both Budapest’s and Hungary’s railway network, while acknowledging that the project has previously faced criticism over procurement procedures and construction costs.
“Regardless of those concerns, we should not lose sight of the fact that a genuinely useful and meaningful investment is now being built,” he wrote.
Future Közvágóhíd station begins to take shape
According to the minister, the newly installed bridge will form part of the future Közvágóhíd railway station, one of the most important elements of the Southern Circle Railway project.
The station is designed to become a major transport interchange, allowing passengers travelling on suburban and long-distance trains crossing Budapest via the Southern Circle Railway to transfer directly to HÉV suburban rail services, trams and buses. Vitézy said the station is expected to become the new southern gateway to Budapest’s city centre, both in transport and urban planning terms.
Second bridge to complete four-track station
The current bridge is only the first phase of the new railway crossing. A second steel bridge is scheduled to be installed next summer, creating a four-track railway corridor with two island platforms at the new Közvágóhíd station.
Seven years in the making
Vitézy recalled that the concept for the Southern Circle Railway was first developed seven years ago together with railway planners and transport experts. He said it was a rare experience to see a project that had spent years on the drawing board finally becoming reality.
“It is a special feeling when something you’ve worked on for years is built before your eyes,”
he wrote, adding that he had been the first person to step onto the platform of the new station after the bridge had been positioned.
Thanks to workers and motorists
The minister also thanked engineers, contractors, MÁV railway specialists and everyone involved in carrying out the complex weekend operation. He also expressed gratitude to motorists using Soroksári Road for their patience during the bridge installation, which required significant traffic restrictions.
The Southern Circle Railway is one of Budapest’s largest ongoing railway infrastructure projects and aims to increase rail capacity through the capital while improving connections between suburban, regional and urban public transport services.
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