Economy 12 November 2024, 3:17pm

No new trains for Hungary until at least 2026 - minister

Portfolio

The situation and future of rail transport in Hungary was the focus of a hearing of the Minister of Construction and Transport János Lázár before the Parliamentary Economic Committee on Tuesday. A number of problems have recently emerged in the rail sector, including line closures, significant delays and technical failures, news portal Telex reported.

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The Minister pointed out that speed restrictions are in place on around half of the railway lines, which demonstrates the need for developments. Lázár stressed that the government's policy, in particular the introduction of cheap tickets and season tickets, has contributed to the popularity of rail transport.

On the issue of funding, Lázár acknowledged that road development has priority over rail. He said that since 2010, HUF 5,500 billion had been spent on motorway construction, while HUF 1,400 billion had been allocated to railways.

The minister also announced a HUF 1 700 billion vehicle procurement plan, although the financing of this is still in question.

The purchase of new trains before 2026 is almost impossible, and is not even part of the 2025 budget, he added.

Lázár also raised the possibility of reviving domestic rail vehicle production, which could help keep part of the procurement costs in the domestic economy.

On the development of the HÉV (commuter rail) lines, Lázár said that the government intends to use EU funds to modernise the five lines. According to the plans, the renovation of the Ráckeve, Csepel and Szentendre lines would be completed by 2029, while significant improvements are expected on the Gödöllő and Csömör lines by 2030. They also plan to purchase of 54 new HÉV trains.

In the field of road construction, Lázár reported that 160 kilometres of main roads and 30 kilometres of expressways were upgraded last year. In the future, the aim is also to expand existing motorways.

The minister also addressed the issue of the price of the one-day vignette, acknowledging that its current price is indeed high. However, he stressed that it is an important source of revenue and that they are thinking about using it more efficiently.

Lázár announced that the institution of national priority investments will be phased out gradually, as some of them have had social and political disadvantages. He plans stricter regulation of housing construction to improve quality.