Major railway development to start between Debrecen and Nyíregyháza

As we reported a few days ago reported a few days ago, the Építési és Közlekedési Minisztérium published a conditional public procurement notice concerning the modernisation of the Debrecen–Nyíregyháza section of the 100 Budapest–Záhony railway line.

The renovation was announced in two separate notices. One notice concerns the track section, structures and track-side facilities, while the other concerns safety equipment, telecommunications and ETCS implementation tasks. The deadline for submitting bids in both cases is 1 December 2025.

94 km of track to be completely renewed

The project concerns a 47-kilometre-long, continuous, double-track, electrified section of the No 100 railway line.

A total of 94 kilometres of track will be rebuilt as part of the project. The current authorised speed of the line section is 120 km/h (100 km/h at the Debrecen entrance curve) and the maximum axle load is 210 kN.The contractor will be responsible for making the section suitable for an authorised track speed of 160 km/h, except in the curves after Debrecen station, where the planned speed will be 120 km/h.

The aim of the project is to adapt the stations to the increased freight demand, while ensuring high quality passenger services in line with EU interoperability standards. After the upgrading, the tracks concerned will be electrified and the applicable axle load will increase to 225 kN. In addition to the track works, the successful tenderer will also be responsible for the associated station, road, utility and elevated works.

ETCS2 and fuse box upgrades

The other public procurement concerns the construction of the signalling, telecommunications and ETCS2 (European Train Control System), which also covers 47 kilometres of track, 94 kilometres of track.

The contractor will be responsible for the design and installation of the complete signalling, telecommunications and ETCS2 system. The section of line shall be equipped with new electronic station signalling equipment with shunting track functions, controlling a total of 65 switches, providing 75 Hz scheduled station and line signalling at five stations. For the siding at Császárszállás the reversing track functions are not required.

The works shall include the construction of 47 line kilometres of continuous ETCS2 train path according to the ETCS2 track-side system specifications and requirements, including the RBC equipment. In addition 94 track-km of 75 Hz scheduled signalling shall be built and connected to the signalling equipment. The RBC connected to ETCS2 shall be integrated with the electronic interlocking equipment at the station.

The works include the installation of automatic high-speed level crossing protection devices and high-speed level crossing devices at road-rail level crossings, so that the entry points of the level crossings also meet the requirements of ETCS2. The contractor will also be responsible for obtaining all the necessary permits, documentation and certificates for the authorisation in principle, construction permit, commissioning and official opening for use of the safety equipment.