A major railway development could transform commuting between Budapest and several surrounding towns, with HUF 174 billion (approx. EUR 480 million) earmarked for the modernisation of the Budapest–Fót–Veresegyház–Őrbottyán–Vác railway line.
The investment is part of the Baross Gábor Railway Development Plan and will be financed from the EU Cohesion Fund through the IKOP Plus programme. The aim is to create a faster, more frequent and accessible suburban railway service by 2030.
Up to six trains an hour
According to Dávid Vitézy, Minister for Transport and Investment, the upgrade is increasingly necessary as more residents of the affected settlements commute to Budapest. Most currently travel by car, contributing to congestion, air pollution and demand for parking in the capital.
The upgraded railway is expected to provide a more attractive alternative. In the Fót, Veresegyház and Őrbottyán area, the current service of around one or two trains per hour could increase to four to six trains an hour. A second track will be built where necessary and feasible, increasing capacity and allowing more frequent services. Stations and stops will also be renovated and made accessible, while new P+R car parks and B+R facilities for cyclists will make it easier for commuters to combine different modes of transport.
Passenger numbers could quadruple
Earlier modelling for the Budapest Agglomeration Railway Strategy suggested that passenger numbers on the Veresegyház line could eventually reach three to four times their current level. The line already carries around 10,000 passengers despite its limited service, with trains frequently becoming crowded.
Experience from previously upgraded routes towards Esztergom and Székesfehérvár shows the potential impact of investment, with passenger numbers on those lines reportedly almost doubling. Surveys have also indicated that many more commuters would choose suburban rail if services improved in both quality and frequency.
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Connection to the M3 metro
The railway project is part of a broader transport development programme. Rákospalota–Újpest station is also due to be upgraded, while plans envisage extending the M3 metro to the station. The railway, station development and metro extension are all intended to be completed by 2030, creating a stronger connection between Budapest’s suburban rail network and the underground system.
Vitézy also said he and his colleagues had worked on the Veresegyház line’s development while he was head of the Budapest Development Centre, but claimed the project was later halted by János Lázár. If delivered as planned, the investment could make rail a far more competitive alternative to driving for residents of Budapest’s rapidly growing northern suburbs.
