News has just emerged about the long-term overhaul being carried out on Budapest’s blue M3 metro line. Expect further openings and closures in 2020 – with redevelopment running until 2022.
With the southern section of the M3 metro line currently closed and replacement buses long in place, Budapest passengers have become used to the disruption to their journeys on this major underground artery.
At the moment, the line only goes so far as Nagyvárad tér, where buses trundle down another five stops to what should be the metro terminus at Kőbánya-Kispest. At weekends, only the northern section is operational, between Lehel tér and the other terminus at Újpest-központ.
Work on the central part, through focal Deák Ferenc tér and the rail hub of Nyugati station, awaits in 2020. Prior to the handover of the southern section, the stretch between Arany János utca and Ferenciek tere will be upgraded from March 2020, before the Corvin-negyed and Semmelweis Klinikák stations are renovated in July. Metro trains will still run through them, just not stop, thus avoiding the need for replacement buses in the heat of summer.
The complete closure of the whole central section, from Nyugati station to Semmelweis Klinikák, is expected at the end of 2020. Replacement buses will duly come into force.
The final phase, in 2022, will be the closure and renovations of Nagyvárad tér and Lehel tér stations.
