Hungary Seeks Concessionaire for Budapest Airport Rail Link
The Hungarian government announced plans to grant a concession for constructing a 27 km greenfield railway connecting Budapest's Liszt Ferenc International Airport with the city center.
Project Overview
Minister of Construction and Transport János Lázár stated at a press conference on October 27 that the new line will have a design speed of 160 km/h. The route will branch off the existing Budapest–Cegléd main line southeast of Pestszentlőrinc, run through the airport area, and rejoin the main line at Monor.
Infrastructure Details
The plan includes a tunnel between 2 km and 3 km long beneath the airport, which will house an underground station. The entire project will be delivered under a concession model, with the concessionaire responsible for financing, construction, and operation over a 30 to 35-year period.
Operational Model
Train operations are expected to use rolling stock from state-owned passenger operators MÁV Személyszállítási Zrt or GySEV. The concessionaire would handle the estimated project cost of around €1 billion, primarily funded from ticket revenues.
“The concessionaire is expected to offer a single fare competitive with existing transport options, estimated at around HUF 3,000 to HUF 4,000,” said Máté Lóga, State Secretary of the Ministry of Economy and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Budapest Airport.
Timeline and Goals
The project aims to enhance connectivity between the airport and the central city, reducing travel times and supporting Hungary’s transportation and infrastructure development strategy.
Author’s summary: The Hungarian government is initiating a €1bn concession project to establish a 160 km/h rail link between central Budapest and Liszt Ferenc Airport, including a new tunnel and station.