The largest domestic railway development project to date is set to begin

Work is set to begin shortly on what is currently Hungary’s largest railway development project: the construction of the Zalaszentiván branch line, a project costing nearly 12 billion forints, the mayor of Zalaegerszeg announced at a press conference on Tuesday.

The GYSEV Zrt. and V-S Zala Consortium – of which Swietelsky Vasúttechnika Kft. and V-Híd Network Kft. are members – has undertaken the construction work for 11.79 billion forints; the works are due to be completed by early 2028.

According to information published on the GYSEV website, the construction of the Zalaszentiván spur line is necessary because passenger trains operating between Szombathely and Zalaegerszeg, as well as freight trains travelling to and from Slovakia, Poland and Slovenia on the Baltic-Adriatic Corridor can currently only pass through Zalaszentiván station by changing direction. Trains arriving from Szombathely enter Zalaszentiván heading east, then continue their journey in the opposite, i.e. westbound, direction towards Zalaegerszeg.

With funding from the national budget, the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) and the Integrated Transport Development Operational Programme (IKOP) Plus, the construction of a new, 1,500-metre-long electrified connecting track on the western side of Zalaszentiván station will significantly simplify rail transport in the region, allowing trains to operate with shorter journey times without the need to change direction.

Zoltán Balaicz explained that the open European Union tender for the construction of the new railway junction was concluded in December, and the contract was signed on 2 February. Once funding had been secured, this agreement came into force in April, meaning that the handover of the site will take place and preparatory work will begin.