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Long-awaited railway link to Budapest Airport and new terminal finally set to become reality
On Monday afternoon, the Hungarian government announced one of the largest infrastructure projects in the country’s recent history. Two ministers – Márton Nagy, Minister of National Economy, and János Lázár, Minister of Construction and Transport – unveiled details of a EUR 2.5 billion development plan for the area surrounding Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport (Budapest Airport). The project represents Hungary’s most significant transport investment in decades.
Fast rail link: just 20 minutes from the city centre to the airport
The government’s goal is to establish a modern railway connection between Budapest and the airport, cutting travel time from Nyugati Railway Station to Ferihegy to just 20 minutes. Plans include the construction of a new 27-kilometre railway section between Kőbánya and Monor, fully integrated into the national rail network. This will allow direct, transfer-free train services to the airport from major Hungarian cities such as Debrecen and Győr.
The project will be implemented through an international tender and a concession model, meaning private investors will also participate in its financing and construction.
Train tickets are expected to cost around HUF 3,000–4,000 (EUR 7.7–10.3), offering a much more affordable alternative to taxis.
The new trains will be capable of running at speeds of up to 160 km/h, with the entire railway project expected to be completed by 2034–2035, coinciding with the handover of the new Terminal 3.
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EUR 2.5 billion investment package for Budapest Airport
The overall programme, worth around HUF 1,000 billion (EUR 2.5 billion), consists of three main components:
- EUR 1 billion for the express railway connection
- EUR 1 billion for the construction of Terminal 3
- EUR 500 million for the development of road infrastructure
According to Minister Lázár, the scale and complexity of the investment underline the government’s long-term commitment to air transport as a strategic sector. He added that the project disproves claims that the government neglects Budapest in favour of rural areas: “Today is a good day for Budapest,” he stated, according to Telex.
The railway construction will affect 353 properties, 265 of which will need to be purchased by the state. A new 12-kilometre road network with six lanes (three in each direction) is also planned and expected to be completed by the end of 2028, with the full development finished around 2035.
Hurrah, the powers that be have seen sense and decided on the correct format. Not a dead-end spur line to the airport and not a fully segregated railway, but a diversion of the main route allowing all through trains to stop at the airport. This is exactly the right choice.