BUDAPEST public transport authority BKK has awarded Főmterv a contract to design a new line to reconnect the northern and southern light rail networks in Pest on the eastern side of the River Danube. The contract is worth Forints 1.63bn ($US 4.8m) and is due for completion within 890 days.
The contract was tendered last year but signing was delayed by a lack of funding. BKK made a request for European Union (EU) funding from the Hungarian government in March 2024, but this has not yet been approved. In the meantime, the City of Budapest has decided to pre-finance design work.
The scope of the contract includes the production of plans and tendering documents for construction, with Főmterv responsible for obtaining the necessary planning and other approvals for the full project. Construction cost was estimated at Forints 38bn in early 2024.
Restoring the link between the northern and southern networks that was abandoned following the construction of metro Line 3 in 1980, the project includes building 2.2km of double track along Bajcsy-Zsilinszky Road. This will run from the current terminus of lines 12 and 14 at Lehel Square via Nyugati station to the terminus of lines 47 and 49 at Deák Ferenc Square, also a key interchange on the Budapest metro network.
The new link will create a single light rail line with a total length of 23km, providing a direct connection between the northeastern and southwestern districts of the city. Design work covers a total of 20 platforms at light rail stops, with several existing platforms to be rebuilt to improve accessibility.
Once design is completed, tendering of construction contracts could start in late 2028. The new line is expected to attract an additional 9000 passengers a day, and reduce road vehicle emissions in the city centre.
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