High-speed trains will connect Budapest and Bucharest? – UPDATED

PM Viktor Orbán started his visit to Romania in Bucharest this year. Last year, the Romanian prime minister harshly criticised his Hungarian counterpart’s speech at Tusványos.

On Wednesday, Orbán wrote their meeting was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Here is the post:

According to hvg.hu, the Romanian prime minister drew Orbán’s attention to the importance of supporting Ukraine. Furthermore, Ciolacu thanked Orbán for supporting Romania’s Schengen accession. Several Western countries, including Austria do not back the idea. If it were unsuccessful this year, the 2024 Hungarian EU presidency could mark a positive milestone in the project.

Orbán and Ciolacu discussed establishing a high-speed train system between Budapest and Bucharest. The speed limit would be 160 km/h instead of the general 200 km/h, but still, it could help Romanians and Hungarians and develop economic ties between the two countries significantly. However, there is no money for the project. According to Maszol, a Hungarian newspaper in Romania, the railway line would cost more than EUR 7 billion. Meanwhile, bridges, tunnels and the operation system would add billions to that sum. Therefore, the Budapest-Bucharest fast train is only the fantasy of the two leaders.

UPDATE: Orbán is thankful

Accorrding to MTI, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Saturday sent a letter to Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, thanking him for recent talks in Bucharest and for ensuring the “smooth operation” of the Balvanyos Summer University in Baile Tusnad, in central Romania, the PM’s press chief said.