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Major overhaul planned for Budapest’s historic M1 metro!
Budapest’s iconic M1 metro, widely known as the Millennium Underground Railway or “kisföldalatti,” is set for a comprehensive overhaul and extension. This marks a significant transformation for the city’s (and the European continent’s!) oldest metro line.
Extension to Rákosrendező and modernisation plans
The Budapest City Council has placed the renovation and extension of the M1 at the centre of its strategic infrastructure goals. The line’s infrastructure was last partially refurbished 30 years ago, while the rolling stock has now surpassed 50 years in service, making a full-scale modernisation urgent.
According to Ádám Bodor, Deputy CEO for Mobility at the Budapest Transport Centre (Budapesti Közlekedési Központ, BKK), the central aim of the project is to extend the metro line to Rákosrendező railway station, InfoStart writes.
“We are considering a realistic first phase that focuses on the extension to Rákosrendező. At the same time, we aim to create a convenient interchange with Tram 1 at Hungária Boulevard and achieve full accessibility along the entire line,” Bodor said.
The project will also include the upgrade of the Mexikói Road depot, essential for keeping the line operational, as well as modernising signalling and train control systems. Surface-level improvements, particularly around Mexikói Road, are also planned, complementing ongoing developments near Rákosrendező.
Timeline and procurement
László Horváth, BKK’s Director of Investments, outlined the proposed timeline: preliminary market consultations are expected to begin in February 2026, followed by indicative requests for proposals. A decision on initiating the conditional public procurement process could be made by April, with contracts for the design phase likely to be signed the following spring.
Funding still uncertain
Financing for the project remains uncertain. The procurement process will initially be conditional, pending the availability of funds, which the BKK intends to secure from European Union programmes. The funding application was submitted two years ago, but a decision has yet to be reached.
However, according to Bálint Dományi, head of the Rákosrendező Project Office, under a previous infrastructure agreement between the Hungarian government and the capital, the state would finance both the refurbishment of the existing section and the extension to Rákosrendező.
A new era for Budapest’s oldest metro
If realised, the plans will mark the end of the M1 in its current form, ushering in a modern, accessible, and extended metro line that meets the needs of 21st-century Budapest while preserving its historic significance.
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