Major track maintenance planned for Budapest’s HÉV suburban rail lines about to begin

Long-awaited maintenance and track renewal works are set to begin on several HÉV suburban railway lines in Budapest and its surrounding metropolitan area.

Budapest’s railways about to be reborn

The planned upgrades aim to improve operational safety, reduce noise, and extend the lifespan of some of the busiest sections of the network, while keeping disruption to passengers to a minimum.

According to a public procurement notice published on the EU’s TED platform, MÁV Személyszállítási Zrt. has awarded a contract worth a net HUF 200 million to Swietelsky Vasúttechnika Kft. The company will be responsible for carrying out specialised rail welding and track maintenance tasks across multiple HÉV routes in Budapest and its agglomeration, reports Magyar Építők.

Focus on safety, comfort and durability

The primary objective of the works is to enhance the reliability of the HÉV network by eliminating noisy rail joints, repairing worn track sections and reducing the risk of future failures. By using modern welding technologies, maintenance requirements are expected to decrease over time, while passenger comfort should noticeably improve.

The project will rely on advanced methods that allow heavily used track sections to be repaired without dismantling the existing railway infrastructure. This approach not only shortens construction time but also helps keep services running smoothly.

What kind of work will be carried out?

The contract covers two main types of intervention. One is aluminothermic rail welding combined with arc surfacing, which is used to remove gaps between rails and restore damaged or worn rail surfaces. The other focuses on welding switches and installing insulated rail joints, a crucial step in ensuring the safe operation of points, crossings and junctions.

These highly specialised procedures are essential for maintaining both the mechanical stability of the tracks and the electrical insulation required for signalling and safety systems. Thanks to these techniques, some of the most heavily trafficked sections can be upgraded without major structural changes.

Night-time works to limit disruption

To minimise inconvenience for commuters, a significant portion of the construction work will take place at night. This scheduling is intended to preserve daytime passenger services as much as possible, particularly on routes that are vital for daily travel between Budapest and its suburban areas.

Affected HÉV lines

The maintenance works will impact several key lines within the HÉV network, including:

• H5 – Szentendre line
• H6 – Ráckeve line
• H7 – Csepel line
• H8 – Gödöllő line
• H9 – Csömör line

In parallel with these targeted upgrades, broader modernisation plans are also underway. The Szentendre HÉV line, for example, is expected to undergo a comprehensive technical renewal in the future, including the modernisation of passenger-serving infrastructure, signalling a long-term commitment to improving suburban rail transport in Budapest.