Budapest’s Déli railway station will be completely closed on 10–11 October for maintenance works aimed at removing several speed restrictions and fixing long-standing infrastructure problems.
Déli station to close for the entire weekend
Budapest’s Déli railway station will be completely closed on Saturday and Sunday, 10–11 October, as Hungary’s state railway operator MÁV carries out major maintenance works.
The closure is necessary to allow several jobs to be completed at the same time, including repairs to tracks, points and platforms. The works are also expected to eliminate several speed restrictions currently affecting trains around the station.
Transport and Investment Minister Dávid Vitézy announced the closure, highlighting the backlog of railway maintenance as one of the most serious problems facing Hungary’s rail network.
The works will include repairs to points, replacement of rails and sleepers, and repairs to the entrance of the tunnel towards Kelenföld and its retaining wall. Platform defects will also be addressed.
MÁV will also inspect the overhead power lines and energy supply systems, while lighting, passenger information equipment and train servicing facilities will be maintained.
Why is the station being closed completely?
According to Vitézy, the works can only be carried out efficiently with the entire station closed. The government has deliberately scheduled the work outside the summer and weekday peak periods, although passengers travelling through Budapest this weekend should expect changes to their journeys.
The minister said that poor track conditions are a major reason why trains have to operate under speed restrictions in several parts of the Hungarian railway network. The aim of the weekend works is therefore not simply to carry out routine maintenance, but also to remove some of these restrictions.
If you missed it: Train derails at busy Budapest railway station, services disrupted
Bigger railway upgrade planned for Déli
The weekend repairs are only the first step in a much larger transformation planned for the area around Déli station. Under the Baross Gábor Railway Development Plan, the railway infrastructure around the station is set to undergo a major reconstruction.
One of the key projects will involve the railway line through the Kis-Gellért Hill tunnel, which will be lowered by around 20 centimetres and widened to allow high-capacity double-decker trains to reach Déli station.
A new two-track railway will be built inside the tunnel, while the tunnel structure, subsoil and associated slopes will also be reinforced. The larger project at Déli station will include the replacement of 26 sets of points, modernisation of the tracks and installation of a new signalling system.
Platforms will also be rebuilt or renovated, with tactile paving and new passenger furniture. A modern audio and visual passenger information system will be installed, while the energy and telecommunications networks will be upgraded and a new security camera system introduced.
More capacity and better reliability promised
The planned investment is intended to do more than simply repair ageing infrastructure. According to Vitézy, the aim is to increase the railway capacity of Déli station, improve punctuality and provide a higher level of service for suburban, long-distance and Lake Balaton trains.
The station building itself is not included in the current infrastructure project, although planning for its renovation has also begun. For now, however, the focus is on fixing the most urgent track problems and removing speed restrictions. The larger reconstruction will follow.
Vitézy acknowledged that Hungary’s railway network cannot be brought back into good condition overnight, arguing that the accumulated maintenance backlog must be tackled alongside major long-term investments.
