Hungary to expand rail fleet with 70 new Chinese trains, major infrastructure projects planned
Hungary is set to significantly modernise its rail network, with the government planning to purchase 70 new Chinese-built trains alongside existing Swiss Stadler models. The announcements were made by Minister of Construction and Transport János Lázár during a press briefing in Hajdúszoboszló on Thursday.
New trains for domestic routes
The new motor trains, expected to operate on the Debrecen–Nyíregyháza–Miskolc corridor, will complement 10–15-year-old Stadler trains, which will be refurbished and serviced in Szolnok, according to a report by Telex. In total, 93 trains providing 14,000 seats are planned for delivery this year, costing HUF 80 billion (EUR 208.3 million).
The Chinese CRRC ZEMU double-decker trains, tested on Hungarian tracks over the summer, are 158 metres long and capable of carrying 1,280 passengers, including 571 seated. They can reach speeds of up to 200 km/h. Designed with lightweight aluminium and composite materials, the trains’ mass is only around 10 per cent greater than conventional single-deck vehicles, despite their double-decker configuration. Wide, single-wing doors nearly 1.5 metres across allow for faster boarding and alighting.
“Clearly, the network faces huge demands, and for years we have been operating with 50–60-year-old trains,” Lázár said. He added that Swiss trains, renowned for durability and precision, retain value over time, and acquiring new motor trains is increasingly difficult across Europe.
Investment in rail infrastructure
Alongside rolling stock expansion, Hungary is pressing ahead with infrastructure improvements. The government has confirmed the construction of a new delta junction near Zalaszentiván, a 1.5-kilometre track section designed to connect the east–west 25 line from Slovenia via Zalaegerszeg and Zalaszentiván to Bobá, with the north–south 17 line linking Szombathely through Zalaszentiván to Nagykanizsa. The project will eliminate the need for trains to reverse at Zalaszentiván station, boosting efficiency for both passenger and freight services.
The development, costing nearly HUF 12 billion (EUR 31.2 million), is co-financed by the EU and the Hungarian state, IHO reports. The V-S Zala Consortium—comprising Swietelsky Vasúttechnika Kft., V-Híd Network Kft., and R-Kord Kft.—won the construction contract, with 840 days allocated for completion, which could see the project finished by November 2028. The delta junction will also support Metrans’ planned container terminal, further enhancing freight capacity.
Renewing InterCity services
The government also plans to add one new InterCity carriage on the Budapest–Debrecen route. Lázár highlighted that 10 per cent of the total seating capacity from the new trains will primarily serve Debrecen and Miskolc, while the remaining carriages will be used in Szolnok, Sopron, Szombathely, and Budapest. The Ministry is considering acquiring additional used Stadler trains from Switzerland to meet future demand.
These measures reflect Hungary’s ambition to modernise both rolling stock and railway infrastructure, aiming to improve travel quality, increase capacity, and strengthen the country’s role in European freight corridors.