In the EU budget period of 2014-2020, transport development is to serve stimulating the economy, increasing competitiveness and enhancing employment, while one of the great winners of the time will be the railways, Minister of State for Transport Policy of the Ministry of National Development László Tasó pointed out.

In 2014-2020, there is a total allocation of net 1,605 billion forints from the Integrated Transport Development Operational Programme (ITOP) and the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) to be spent on transport development in Hungary, to be complemented from other EU sources, he emphasised. Examples for the latter are funds from the Economic Development and Innovation Operational Programme (EDIOP) to be spent on tourism-targeted bicycle projects and subsidies improving regional accessibility from the Regional Operational Programmes.

The implementation of public road development goals not subsidised by the EU would be supported from the state budget by several hundred billion forints, the Minister of State added. László Tasó recalled that the Government had passed the National Transport Infrastructure Development Strategy in August, which set out transport policy targets on the basis of which the Ministry had worked out ITOP, currently under social consultations.

In Hungary, one of the greatest winners of the EU budget period are the railways; up to three quarters of the EU resources available may be utilised here, while, as regards urban transport development, rural large towns are to be given bigger opportunities compared to previous proportions, the Minister of State pointed out.

From county seats and towns with county rights, Békéscsaba, Szombathely, Sopron, Szolnok, Salgótarján, Kaposvár and Eger should expect high-level connections into the transport network; the sections of motorways M3, M4 and M6 as well as of trunk roads M2, 30 and M85 are to be constructed up to the country borders, László Tasó revealed. As part of the motorway connection between Debrecen and Oradea, the North Transylvania Corridor is to be continued on the Hungarian side; Esztergom is to be connected to motorway M1 and the Danube bridge at Komárom is to be completed. There are plans to construct bypasses in the regions of Csorna, Hódmezővásárhely, Várpalota and Győr/Pápa.

Public road projects involve a total length of almost 600 km, requiring total funds of 1,500 billion forints, of which the costs of highway developments per se – motorways and trunk roads – make up more than 1,100 billion forints. In this field, the net EU funding is to be supplemented, in addition to  own funds, by public finance revenues from the e-toll system primarily, the Minister of State added. He said that unexampled development opportunities would open up for the railways, while service standards would continue to rise in ways more spectacular than ever.

According to preliminary plans, the major railway projects are to affect 800 km; total costs amount to almost 1,300 billion forints, László Tasó revealed. The Minister of State underlined that the modernisation would affect the sections from Rákos, via Hatvan and Miskolc to Nyíregyháza; from Kelenföld via Százhalombatta, Pusztaszabolcs and Dombóvár to Gyékényes as well as those between Biatorbágy and Tata, and Debrecen and Püspökladány. The reconstruction of the South-Balaton line is to continue along the section past Szántód-Kőröshegy; the GSM-R railway communication system is to be installed along new sections and more up-to-date commuting multiple units are to be purchased, some of which are to accommodate up to 300 people. The railway stations of Szolnok and Szombathely are to be refurbished and a high-standard rolling stock connection is to be built between Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport and Nyugati Railway Station.

The total investment value of major urban/suburban projects is to come close to 330 billion forints, the Minister of State emphasised. He mentioned suburban railway developments also serving local transport and the development of intermodal passenger transport hubs as examples. In addition to implementing the railway developments in Vác and Veresegyház, the Budapest suburban railway line HÉV, the agglomeration railway lines of Debrecen and Szeged are to be modernised and developed, intermodal railway/bus connections are to be established in several towns with county rights, P+R parking lots are to be established and, in Budapest, both Keleti and Nyugati railway stations are to be refurbished, László Tasó revealed. The Ministry of National Development is to prepare a large-scale amendment package, initiating, among others, shortening the deadlines of authority/licensing procedures. There is strong commitment to start investments within up to 18-24 months following the decision approving them, László Tasó said.

(MTI)