Budapest’s suburban rail line finally gets a green light – But critics say the upgrade is actually a downgrade
A long-awaited development of Budapest’s suburban railway network is finally moving forward: the government has approved the renovation of the Szentendre (H5) HÉV line and decided on the “rationalisation of the project’s technical content.”
Progress announced – but not everything is going according to plan
According to a government decree published in the Magyar Közlöny, the public procurement process for construction can now begin. However, the document does not specify any precise deadlines or total investment costs.
János Lázár, Minister for Construction and Transport, had already promised during the summer that the H5 line would be the first to undergo a complete overhaul, including both the track and the stations.
MÁV (Hungarian State Railways) is planning to purchase 54 new, modern, low-floor trains, the first 18 of which are expected to arrive by the end of 2029.
The project will also receive EU funding, which makes meeting deadlines especially important. According to MÁV CEO Zsolt Hegyi, this could mark a major milestone, as the Szentendre line is one of Hungary’s busiest suburban rail routes.
Dávid Vitézy voices concerns over Budapest’s suburban railways
However, as reported by Infostart, the announcement has sparked significant controversy. Dávid Vitézy, former Secretary of State for Transport and former head of the Budapest Development Centre, criticised the decision, arguing that the so-called “rationalisation” in fact means a downgrade. The new trains, he says, will be shorter, have fewer seats and doors, yet come at a higher price.
Vitézy pointed out that while the previous tender specified 120-metre-long trains capable of carrying 700 passengers, the new plan only calls for 110-metre units with space for 650 passengers – all at a 17% higher cost.
Fewer doors, more problems
The number of doors has also become a point of contention. MÁV now requires only 12 doors per side instead of the previous 18, which, according to Vitézy, will significantly slow passenger boarding and alighting. This could prove especially problematic if the Budapest suburban railway lines are later connected to Budapest’s underground rail network via tunnels.
Further uncertainty surrounds the scope of the project, as the current tender covers only the H5 line, while the modernisation of the Ráckeve and Csepel lines has been postponed indefinitely.
Experts warn that this could hinder long-term plans to integrate the HÉV system into the national railway network – a move that could be key to improving service frequency on the suburban lines to Belgrade and Esztergom.
Vitézy says it’s negligence
Vitézy described the government’s approach as “negligent,” commenting: “They are deciding the future of an infrastructure that affects hundreds of thousands of commuters with a few lines in a late-night government decree.” In his view, the term “rationalisation” merely masks a scaling back of the development plans.
While the launch of the tender undeniably represents progress, many remain doubtful whether the H5 HÉV line will truly be renewed by 2029 – and whether the other lines will ever follow.