4.5 Billion Euros Spent on Railway Development Since 2010

The government has spent over 1,800 billion forints (4.5 billion euro) on railway development since 2010. Thanks to these investments, 1,200 kilometers of track and numerous stations, parking lots, and noise protection walls have been built.

Bálint Nagy, State Secretary for Transport, Ministry of Construction and Transport, stressed that transport development is one of the most important pillars for strengthening the economy, mobilizing the labor market, and helping the Hungarian countryside catch up. He said that due to its geographical location and infrastructural development, Hungary is also a transit country, and therefore rail freight transport should play an important role alongside road transport. This is why projects such as the Budapest-Belgrade rail investment are being developed.

Nagy added that

the government aims to make public transport a fast, cheap, and coordinated alternative for all people. To achieve this, better conditions, more accessible services, and more reliable infrastructure must be provided.

The Ministry of Construction and Transport has already laid the foundations for this: with the complete renewal of the tariff system, the reorganization of the MÁV Group, and the 10-year rail development strategy, which aims to improve rail infrastructure and services, said the Minister of State.

Nagy described the introduction of the Hungary pass and the county passes as the most significant tariff reform affecting public transport in the last 30 years, which has led to a renewed increase in the number of public transport users.

He pointed out that

János Lázár, Minister of Construction and Transport, announced in January that the positive effects of his 10-point commitment are already being felt by passengers in terms of improved service quality, passenger comfort, and travel planning.

Nagy said that the transport ministry aims to promote the share of rail freight in the transport sector.

László Mosóczi, President of the HUNGRAIL Hungarian Rail Association, gave Nagy the Rail Freight Transport Efficiency and Performance Improvement Action Plan (VÁGTA), drawn up by the association. The VÁGTA program contains more than 40 areas of intervention in eight main categories and aims primarily to halt the decline in the rail freight sector, reduce high costs, and make the service more predictable, reliable, and thus competitive as soon as possible. The sector aims to provide a competitive, green transport alternative for the developing industry.

Via MTI; Featured picture: Pexels