European Commission: EU Cohesion Policy – Inauguration of the Renovated Metro Line in Budapest

BRUSSELS, Belgium, May 22 -- The European Commission issued the following news release:

The renovated M3 or 'blue' metro line in Budapest, Hungary, was inaugurated and opened to passengers. The renovation of this line - whose 17,4 km make it the longest in the city - and of 20 metro stations started in November 2017 and benefitted from Euros453 million Cohesion Policy funding from the 2014-2020 programming period, out of a total budget of Euros591 million. This project is one of the biggest EU investments in Hungary and in the whole EU.

Starting today, over 500,000 daily passengers will commute daily in a more comfortable and pleasant environment.

A fast and safe metro, accessible to all

Thanks to EU cohesion funding, the metro line and stations have been completely refurbished.

As a result, the metro is now fully accessible to all, with traditional and specially inclined elevators in the stations of Semmelweis Klinikak, Corvin-negyed, Kalvin ter, Ferenciek tere, Nyugati palyaudvar and Arany Janos utca. Moreover, newly installed tactile paving will help the visually impaired.

The metro's safety has also been significantly increased, thanks to new control, conductor, fire protection and ventilation systems, and the renovation of the stations and their passenger areas. There are now almost 340 emergency call points, whilst 160 monitors and 500 Internet Protocol cameras allow quick and efficient interventions.

The old trains have been replaced by new ones which will run at an average speed of 80 km/h. Lighting will be ensured by LED lights. 300 centrally controlled clocks, 180 visual signs and 2060 loudspeakers will help the passengers. And about 32.000 m(2) of floor paving has been renovated.

Background

In 2014-2020, Hungary benefited from Cohesion Policy funding worth Euros22.5 billion. The renovation of the metro has been financed by the Integrated Transport Development Operational Programme, which is funded by the Cohesion Fund (Euros2.7 billion) and the European Regional Development Fund envelope (Euros631 million).

Almost two-thirds of the available funding (37.79% for railway development and 27.19% for sustainable urban transport) contribute to the programme's main objective which is to connect the rail transport networks in Europe and develop sustainable urban transport. Under the sustainable urban mobility priority of the programme, 52 km of metro and tram lines have been built or upgraded.

For the 2021-2027 programming period, almost Euros22 billion of Cohesion Policy funding have been made available to Hungary to implement joint EU priorities such as a balanced territorial development and a fair climate and digital transition, whilst supporting an innovative and inclusive social market economy.

The Cohesion Policy Funds will continue supporting a sustainable and smart mobility development in Hungary. Pending lifting of the Council implementing decision under the conditionality mechanism and in compliance with the relevant enabling conditions, the new Integrated Transport Development Operational Programme Plus will improve sustainable and safer mobility in Hungary with a budget of more than Euros3.5 billion. Under this programme, the Cohesion Fund will make Euros1.1 billion available for sustainable urban mobility. This includes renovating or building 45 km of tram and metro lines and the procuring 51 trams for Budapest.

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More information

EU investment in Hungary (https://cohesiondata.ec.europa.eu/countries/HU/14-20)

Cohesion Open Data Platform (https://cohesiondata.ec.europa.eu/cohesion_overview/21-27)

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Original text here: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_2802