On July 22, 2026, Hungary’s Minister of Transport & Investment Dávid Vitézy and Prime Minister Péter Magyar announced the Gábor Baross Railway Development Plan, a national railway and urban rail investment program valued at no less than HUF 3.55 trillion (€9.76 billion) to be completed by 2035. The announcement took place at Rákospalota-Újpest main line station in Budapest, a site targeted for renovation under the plan.
The investment package follows a political agreement reached on May 29, 2026, between Prime Minister Péter Magyar and European Union President Ursula von der Leyen. This accord, forged after the April 2026 general election
that ended Viktor Orbán’s premiership, enables Hungary to access EU funding for infrastructure projects contingent on governance reforms by August 31, 2026. The Hungarian government has approved the financing framework to deliver this plan, pending the full unlocking of EU funds.
Key Components of the Gábor Baross Railway Development Plan
The program targets modernization through the procurement of railway rolling stock and infrastructure expansion. It includes the purchase of 35 new double-deck electric multiple units (EMUs) for inter-city services and 42 EMUs to replace aging suburban rail fleets on Budapest’s H5, H6, and H7 HÉV lines. An allocation of HUF 95 billion is set aside for battery-electric multiple units
(BEMUs) and charging infrastructure, to be deployed on regional lines including Debrecen – Füzesabony, Sárbogárd – Szekszárd – Baja, and Hatvan – Salgótarján – Somoskőújfalu.
Metro Line M3 will be extended by two stations from Újpest-központ to Rákospalota-Újpest by 2030. The plan also incorporates tram-train schemes such as extending Debrecen’s tram Route 1 on mainline tracks and developing tram-train connections from Kazincbarcika to Tiszaújváros via Miskolc.
Modernization of Lines, Stations, and Infrastructure
The development involves upgrades to suburban rail lines, with infrastructure renewal planned by 2030 for the H5 (21 km), H6 (40 km), and H7 (6.7 km) HÉV lines. Two additional suburban rail lines will
be modernized and electrified: Budapest – Lajosmizse – Kecskemét, enabling through services without transfers, and Budapest – Veresegyház – Vác, with station rebuilds including Rákospalota-Újpest.
On the Budapest Southern Circle railway, the third stage of capacity expansion will complete a flyover at Ferencváros to separate freight and passenger traffic and add a new Népliget passenger station to provide interchange with metro Line M3. The Déli pályaudvar terminus and its tunnel to Kelenföld will be modernized to accommodate double-deck trains. Additionally, a new station will be constructed on the Budapest – Miskolc main line at Hungária körút to enable tram Route
1 interchange.
Upgrades to the Debrecen – Nyíregyháza main line aim to enable 160 km/h operation and add two new stations in Debrecen. Suburban rail operations are planned for development in Győr and Eger as part of early stage proposals.
Infrastructure Reliability and Signaling Upgrades
An infrastructure modernization program will address network reliability concerns, focusing initially on Szolnok station and several stations around Lake Balaton, a major tourist area. The Budapest – Beograd main line modernization is ongoing but delayed, specifically its signaling system provided by China Railway Signal & Communication. Full revenue services on this route remain conditional on TÜV’s safety certification, possibly resulting
in commissioning by September 2026.
The plan also emphasizes early priorities including the creation of a national transport authority overseeing both rail and coach transport, a digitalisation effort, electrical substation upgrades, and modernization of rail passenger information systems nationwide.
Impact on Passengers and Official Position
The replacement of MÁV Személyszállítási’s rolling stock fleet, which currently averages 43 years in age, aims to improve service quality and reduce environmental footprint through battery-electric train deployment. The metro extension, suburban rail renewals, and new stations will enhance interchange options, notably at Rákospalota-Újpest and Népliget stations.
Minister Dávid Vitézy described the Gábor Baross Railway Development Plan as the largest railway
investment program in Hungary in six decades, declaring it a fully financed directive for the transport ministry and MÁV to complete by 2035. He highlighted the plan’s unprecedented scale and the commitment to delivering modernization across national and urban rail systems.
EU Funding and Political Context
The investment relies heavily on EU funding unlocked under a political agreement following Hungary’s 2026 general election. Compliance with governance reforms before August 31, 2026, is a prerequisite for accessing these funds. The plan reflects a strategic shift in Hungarian rail policy, enabled by political change and designed to modernize infrastructure, renew aging fleets, and introduce tram-trains and battery
traction units over the next decade and beyond.
