In Hungary in the past ten years, some 600 kilometres of railway tracks have been modernised and 300 kilometres of railway lines have been electrified, railway stations have been refurbished, the rolling stock has been upgraded, new electric engines and multiple units have been procured, and the Hungarian state railway company MÁV has manufactured 20 self-developed railway carriages, Minister for Innovation and Technology László Palkovics listed on Tuesday at the conference 2019 Hungarian Railways of the Hungrail Hungarian Railway Association in Budapest.

The Minister stressed that railways contribute to the growth of the Hungarian economy, including the record-breaking performance of the tourism sector, transport people to their work places and play a role in the reduction of environmental emissions.

He added that cargo transportation is important in the transportation of raw materials and the forwarding of railway waggons, while automotive industry manufacturers also take advantage of railway transportation. He observed that in the Debrecen region the development of a North-West economic zone is also about railway development.

Mr Palkovics said during the current EU development cycle Hungary will use HUF 1,500 billion for railway developments, and it is to be expected that in the next EU development cycle, too, sums in the magnitude of HUF 1,500 to 2,000 billion will be available for the purpose. He observed that the government additionally provides domestic funds for railway developments.

The Minister for Innovation and Technology also said that the Ministry will shortly finalise the railway strategy planned for the period extending to 2030. He pointed out that the development of railway networks, the strengthening of railway connections between Budapest and other large Hungarian cities, and the development of railway links between the Hungarian capital and the capitals of neighbouring countries constitute important elements of the document.

The Minister highlighted that the construction of the Budapest-Belgrade railway line is a strategic economic policy project; implementation of the project will start shortly, and its realisation will enable Hungary to play an active part in cargo transportation between China and Europe.

The Minister stressed that Hungarian railways wish to take part in innovation. He mentioned as an example that they are currently looking into the possibility of developing railway test tracks, and will strengthen education in railway-related studies.

At the conference, Minister for Innovation and Technology László Palkovics and Hungrail President Róbert Homolya signed a strategic partnership agreement.

The purpose of the cooperation is to create professionally well-founded regulations of the highest quality, to facilitate the implementation of strategies with an impact on the future of the railway industry, to improve regulations affecting the competitiveness of the railway sector, to develop passenger transportation by rail, to enhance the innovation capacity of the railway industry, to increase the role of the domestic logistic distribution centre, to upgrade the network of branch lines, to reduce journey times, to enhance the timeliness of services, and to implement the railway digitisation framework plan.

(MTI)