The first mega project of the newly established Budapest Development Centre will be the construction of the Southern Rail Link, connecting Kelenföld with Ferencváros. Integral to the investment will be three new stops, a expansion of the track, improvement of the environment around the railway and reduction of noise pollution.
As recently outlined, commuting into Budapest will be made far easier and local residents will also benefit.
According to the head of the Budapest Development Centre, Dávid Vitézy: “This kind of railway development has not taken place within Budapest for more than 100 years and is the first rail investment in decades to create new stations and more trains, to benefit commuters and those travelling within the city”.
Three new stops will also be built on the renovated line. Nádorkert in District XI, will connects to the intertwining tram network of Buda and the Infopark. Danubius will allow for the transfer to the adjoining HÉV at Soroksári út and the Danube-side areas, and Népliget to the M3 metro and the surrounding areas of Üllői út.
Trains will run every 10-15 minutes instead of the current half-hour while, according to trade publication Magyar Épitők, they will link to Buda agglomeration, the area around the Déli Városkapu and Kőbánya-Kispest, as well as the Pest agglomeration and the airport.
In addition to modernising and speeding up transport, the development aims to reduce car traffic and improve air quality, as well as regulate the immediate surroundings of the stations and soundproof the stops, important elements of the project.
In co-operation with local government and residents, Hamzsabégi Park will also be renovated, and a modern noise protection wall will be built along Hamzsabégi út, Sárbogárdi út and Dombóvári út, and pedestrian and bicycle lanes will be opened.
The investment schedule of the Southern Rail Link is already in the process of obtaining building permits on the Buda sections, and the design of a new station at Népliget at the Pest end has been put out to tender.
