Budapest Public Transport Authority BKK has awarded a contract to Főmterv to design a new line to reconnect the northern and southern light rail networks in Pest on the eastern side of the Danube. The contract is worth 1.63 billion forints (US$4.8 million) and is scheduled to be completed within 890 days.
The contract was proposed last year, but signing was postponed due to lack of funding. BKK applied for EU funding from the Hungarian government in March 2024, but this has not yet been approved. Meanwhile, the City of Budapest has decided to pre-fund the design work.
The scope of the contract includes the production of plans and tender documents for construction, with Főmterv responsible for obtaining the necessary planning and other approvals for the entire project. The construction cost was estimated at 38 billion forints in early 2024.
Restoring the link between the Northern and Southern networks that was abandoned after the construction of Metro Line No. 3 in 1980, the project includes the construction of a 2.2-kilometre-long double track along the Baicci-Zzelinski route. This will run from the current terminus of lines 12 and 14 at Lyhel Square via Nyogati Station to the end of lines 47 and 49 at Deák Ferenc Square, which is also a major interchange on the Budapest Metro network.
The new link will create a single light rail line with a total length of 23 km, providing direct connectivity between the northeastern and southwestern areas of the city. The design work covers a total of 20 platforms at light rail stations, with several existing platforms being rebuilt to improve accessibility.
Once the design is completed, tendering for construction contracts could begin in late 2028. The new line is expected to attract an additional 9,000 passengers per day, and reduce downtown road vehicle emissions.
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