A Government Decree issued in November of 2016 sets down the project list with relation to Hungary’s short and mid-term railway development strategy, which from the very beginning has also included the renovation of Budapest’s Keleti (Eastern) and Nyugati (Western) railway stations. The Government has provided 2 billion forints each for the performance of preparation tasks.

Project manager MÁV Cls. submitted its requests for major project funding on 18 October 2017. The assessment of the applications began immediately, and the funding agreements could already be concluded before the end of this year.

According to the current schedule, the preparation of the design contests for the renovation of the protected buildings, which play a central role in Hungarian rail transport, will occur in 2018. Further consecutive tasks required for the commencement of renovation work will be realised in subsequent years: the preparation of feasibility studies, then the procurement of construction permits, and finally the development of building plans.

Thanks to the projects, the renovated and modern stations will provide an efficient and passenger-friendly service not only to people living in and around the capital, but also to people who arrive in Budapest from further afield.

(MTI)