HUNGARY: ‘We plan to purchase 100 trains, and we have been in talks with the Chinese in this regard’, Minister of Construction & Transport János Lázár announced at a press conference on January 12 without providing more specific details.
The Hungarian section of the Budapest – Beograd main line is planned to reopen on February 27 for freight, and by March 15 for passenger services following a long-running route modernisation, Lázár confirmed.
Serbian operator Srbija Voz is planning to deploy its five CRRC Changchun electric multiple-units on the Budapest – Beograd service. To accommodate these trains, national railway group MÁV has started work to raise two platforms by 250 mm at Budapest’s Keleti terminus at a cost of HF300m, the railway’s CEO Zsolt Hegyi announced on December 22. However, the EMUs are yet to obtain final certification to operate in Hungary.
Passenger trains will complete the journey from Budapest Keleti to Kelebia on the Serbian border in 1 h 30 min, and therewill be three return trips per day offered initially by the Serbian operator, augmented by a further three train pairs run by the Hungarian operator. Together, this will deliver a train every 2 h between the two capitals, Lázár explained.
The international passenger trains will be reinforced by suburban and inter-regional services on the Hungarian side, linking Budapest to Délegyháza, Soltvadkert and Kiskunhalas.
Test runs are currently underway including trials of the signalling system, being supplied by China Railway Signal & Communication. Lázár said certification body TÜV is undertaking a final safety inspection of the line to ensure the highest level of safety.
‘Freight companies are constantly applying for route slots, and we are nearing 100% of the paths being sold on the Hungarian section’, the minister added.
