Hungary Plans Airport Rail Link Concession
The Hungarian government announced a plan to grant a concession for building a 27 km new railway line connecting Budapest’s Liszt Ferenc International Airport with the city center.
Project Details
- The railway will be a greenfield line designed for speeds up to 160 km/h.
- It will branch off from the existing Budapest–Cegléd main line near Pestszentlőrinc, run to Budapest Airport, and then continue southeast to rejoin the main line at Monor.
- The project includes constructing a tunnel between 2 km and 3 km long underneath the airport, featuring an underground station.
Concession and Operations
The concessionaire will be responsible for financing, building, and operating the rail link for 30 to 35 years. Train services will use rolling stock from state-owned passenger operators MÁV Személyszállítási Zrt or GySEV.
“The concessionaire is expected to cover the estimated €1bn project cost primarily from ticket revenues,” said Máté Lóga, State Secretary of the Ministry of Economy and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Budapest Airport.
He added that the concessionaire should offer fares competitive with current transport alternatives, estimated between HUF 3,000 and HUF 4,000.
Summary
This project aims to deliver a modern, fast rail connection between Budapest city center and its main airport through a public-private partnership, ensuring cost coverage through ticket sales while providing competitive pricing.