Maybe more slowly than surely but Budapest’s new M5 metro line is happening

Budapest desperately needs a new metro line to alleviate the terrible traffic conditions in the city. The thought of the new line has been in the minds of people since the ’90s. It would connect the northern and southern HÉV lines, although the plans are still in the making. If it ever comes to being, it will very likely run through Kálvin Square and Astoria. But when will it be ready?

In an interview with Telex.hu Dávid Vitézy, Secretary of State for Transport shared more details about the plans for the future metro line. A few years ago, it was speculated that possibly in a decade we could commute on the new line, but a lot has happened since then. Two years ago the licensing process was started and this year all the official licences will be received. This will include the tunnel building and also the modernisation of the existing HÉV lines.

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What is the plan?

Dávid Vitézy explained that with the plans in hand the only things necessary for the start were the European Union funds. If Hungary and the European Union can successfully agree on the terms, then the project will be started. If the funds are received, the outer sections of the HÉV lines will be renovated by a 2026 deadline. Most of the cars running the lines are fifty years old and the tracks are in horrible conditions.