Budapest’s iconic metro line faces urgent train replacement, but funding remains uncertain
The trains of the Millennium Underground in Budapest are slowly reaching the age when replacement is no longer only economically justified, but also necessary for passenger safety. The majority of the current rolling stock is over 50 years old and will soon reach 60, posing a serious sustainability and safety risk. Although BKV stresses that they are operating with all the necessary licences, the vehicles are becoming increasingly expensive to maintain and technical problems are occurring more frequently.
One of the biggest issues in vehicle replacement is finding the financial resources. According to Népszava, the capital is hoping that the HUF 320 billion (EUR 802 million) promised by the Orbán government for the Rákosrendező project will cover the necessary costs. However, this is uncertain, as the related sales contract has not yet been signed. If the state funding is not forthcoming, the only option is to borrow money, but this would require government approval, which Budapest has never received.
Obstacles and funding
Time seems to be one of the biggest obstacles because the provisional type-approval for planned new vehicles expires in May 2025. This means that obtaining permits and manufacturing could be delayed if the capital does not act in time. Such a project will take 4-5 years from procurement to series production, so the earliest the new trains could be on the road is around 2029-2030, provided the procurement is launched this year.
BKV’s preliminary estimate is that a single train designed for the M1 tunnel will cost nearly HUF 1.9 billion (EUR 4.76 million), and that at least 22 trains are needed to fully serve the existing line. This represents a total cost of HUF 41.8 billion (EUR 104.8 million), plus one-off planning and licensing costs (HUF 1.5 billion / EUR 3.76 million) and the cost of the necessary maintenance equipment (HUF 2.1 billion / EUR 5.26 million). This brings the total cost of the project to HUF 45.4 billion (EUR 113.8 million) and that’s not including the renewal of the track, tunnels, and safety equipment.
If no public funding is forthcoming, the capital has prepared another option. At the end of February, the Municipal Assembly gave BKV permission to borrow HUF 79.2 billion (EUR 198.5 million) from the European Investment Bank. The loan would have a term of 23 years, during which time it would have to repay almost the same amount, including interest. At the same time, BKV expects to recover all costs through energy efficiency investments, for example, by modernising the old escalators to reduce electricity consumption. But even so, the biggest item, HUF 45.4 billion (EUR 113.8 million), would still be the replacement of its underground vehicles.
A long-term plan
BKV is not only thinking about replacing old vehicles, but also about extending the line. The plan is to extend the subway to Kassai Square and then to Marcheggi Bridge (a small railway bridge in Budapest), adding six new stations. This would require five new trains, bringing the total number of trains to 27 instead of the original 22. The new vehicles would be more modern: air-conditioned, longer, and able to run on the surface, so they could accommodate more passengers.
The coming months will be crucial for the future of Budapest’s transport. Current trains are nearing the end of their lifespan, and the timing of replacement is becoming increasingly difficult. Failure to find funding and launch the procurement process in time could delay the project for years, while the condition of the vehicles continues to deteriorate. Decision-makers need to act quickly to ensure that one of Budapest’s most iconic transport assets does not become a relic of the past.
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