A major step forward in the development of the Hungarian railways: the 30-kilometre section up to the Romanian border has been inaugurated - photos

One of the most significant aspects of the overall development is that, with the completion of the works, there will be no more single-track sections left on Line 120, one of the most important domestic rail corridors.

Stations in Szabadkígyósz, Kétegyháza and Lőkösháza renovated

The project involved 30 kilometres of line, with new grade-separated level crossings and more light barriers to improve safety and reduce environmental impact. The upgrading will allow the implementation of ETCS 2 on the section of the European section of the so-called TEN-T corridor.

The overhead contact line system and power supply were upgraded throughout the entire track network; new vehicle diagnostic systems and electronic fuse equipment were installed with 74 electrical switches.

The stations in Szabadkígyósz, Kétegyháza and Lőkösháza were renovated, and a noise barrier was built on 5.5 kilometres. In Lőkösháza, the renovated old buildings have been given a new function, and barrier-free, rain-protected platforms, underpasses and lifts have been built, and P+R and B+R parking areas have been constructed. As part of the station area renovation, a new roundabout for bus turnarounds was built.

Development also underway on the Romanian side

In his speech at Tuesday's handover ceremony, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán pointed out that thanks to the developments currently underway, including the section handed over today, the journey from Budapest to Brașov, at the foot of the Carpathians, will be shortened by a total of five hours. He also revealed that the Romanian side is also building the section leading to Brașov, but he also referred to the nearly 60 km section between Kiskunfélegyháza and Szeged, for which the public procurement for engineering and technical supervision tasks has recently been announced.

He said that this year the entire M44 motorway will be completed, linking Békés county with the Hungarian motorways. The M47 motorway between Békéscsaba and Debrecen is under construction, and the M4 is also under construction between Szolnok and Kisújszállás, as far as Berettyóújfalu, from where the border can already be reached with four lanes, he said.

Lőkösháza is our second largest rail border crossing for freight traffic

Norbert Erdős, a Fidesz MP, said that the railway line will be fully upgraded to European standards, with trains running at 160 kilometres per hour. He added that Lőkösháza is already Hungary's second largest rail border crossing after Hegyeshalom.

His parliamentary colleague, Béla Dankó said that "Békés county is on an unprecedented development path". Today is also about the future, about Békés county not remaining a periphery, "it will be an active, competitive and strong part of the Hungarian economy", he said. In the words of Archdiocese Mayor Árpád Takács, there has not been a transport development like the one in recent years since the era of dualism, and the investment is also a national reunification with Partium.