The M2 metro line would run to Cinkota for the HÉV developments

Public procurement announcement concerning the development of the Gödöllő-Budapest (H8) and Csömör-Budapest (H9) HÉV lines and the planning of a new vehicle depot, said József Pántya, Deputy State Secretary for Road and Railway Construction (ÉKM) (ÉKM), Deputy State Secretary for Road and Railway Construction, at a press conference in Budapest on Tuesday. We reported on this last week when the EU public procurement data was published reported on this last week, and further information has now been released.

Metro to Cinkota, 27 km reconstruction, 2 km electrification

He elaborated,

The planning task is the complete reconstruction of the 27 kilometres of the two HÉV lines, including the replacement of the HÉV by metro on about 8 kilometres of line to Cinkota.

The planning task also includes the electrification of a 2-kilometre section of the Csömör branch, which is currently not electrified, and the design of a completely new vehicle depot in the vicinity of the M0 motorway, he added. He stressed,

One of the biggest challenges will be the planning of the separate level of the Örs vezér tér artefacts, the elimination of the effect of the HÉV cutting the XVI. district in two, as well as the rethinking of the use of the existing Cinkotai vehicle depot and the planning of P+R parking. In addition, temporary facilities and scheduling should be provided.

The entire vehicle operation needs to be rethought, as it would be a metro operation up to Cinkota and then a metro and then a metro system," he said.

The design contract would be signed in March next year

The Deputy State Secretary said that consultations are being held with stakeholders during the planning process, and that the project will affect not only the XVI district but also the X district, the XIV district and the eastern agglomeration of Pest county.

The ministry has earmarked a net HUF 7.5 billion for the design work, and the design contract is expected to be concluded in the first quarter of next year, by March, giving the designer 44 months to complete the design and obtain approval, József Pántya said.

If funds are available, construction could start by 2030

At the press conference, MEP Kristóf Szatmáry said that the project and the running of metro line 2 to Cinkota will be a huge change for the district. The project could start by 2030 if the construction plans and funds are available.

Péter Kovács, Mayor of District XVI, stressed that the local government will have the opportunity to express its opinions, suggestions and comments during the planning phase. He added that the project will be the largest public transport investment in the district, and will be implemented with EU funding.