The contract can be concluded after a successful test period for a total of 27 locomotives.Continue reading
János Lázár, Minister of Construction and Transport, has presented major plans regarding public transport to the Economic Affairs Committee of the National Assembly. Under the five-point action plan announced in the summer, the renovation of 14 key railway lines would begin in the near future, Világgazdaság reported.
Some 500 kilometers of track will be upgraded, with the main aim of sticking to timetables on key lines. The European Investment Bank is expected to make a decision on the 30-year loan to finance the project in April next year, he added.
As for the purchase of rolling stock, the minister said the amount was close to HUF 1,700 billion (EUR 4 billion), but said it was still questionable how many locomotives this would be enough for.
The purchase of new locomotives before 2026 is not realistic, as it will take much longer to produce them. Therefore, the minister said it is more likely that second-hand or refurbished vehicles in better condition than today will be purchased.
The renewal of MÁV’s rolling stock will allow a new structure to be set up for the 2025 summer tourist season,
but the politician said it is also important whether the purchases will have an impact on the Hungarian economy or whether the state will only buy foreign products. The minister promised to give details of the improvements that will improve passenger comfort in January 2025.
Most of the HUF 1,500 billion (EUR 3.7 billion) to be provided by the European Commission for the renewal of fixed-track transport will be spent on the renewal of the five HÉV lines (railway lines connecting Budapest with the metropolitan area). In the first phase, the H5 (Szentendre), H6 (Ráckeve) and H7 (Csepel) lines will be renewed, while in the second phase, the H8 (Gödöllő) and H9 (Csömör) lines will be revamped, János Lázár explained.
HÉV locomotives. Photo: Wikipedia
The project will reportedly also include the purchase of much-needed vehicles, as 60-year-old vehicles are currently transporting passengers.
According to the minister, preparations are currently underway, and the tender for the HÉV vehicles will be launched this quarter and in the first quarter of 2025.
Via Világgazdaság, Featured image: Facebook/MÁV