Speed restrictions have been lifted on further sections – trains are once again running along the entire Budapest–Pécs railway line

Trains are once again running along the entire length of the Budapest–Pécs railway line from Wednesday, Transport and Investment Minister Dávid Vitézy announced on his Facebook page. Track renewal work between Sárbogárd and Dombóvár has been completed; the aim of the project was to remove the slow-speed signs that were causing speed restrictions and to improve the condition of the railway track.

The MÁV project, funded from the company’s own resources and worth 1.15 billion forints, took place over a period of four weeks. Over the past few weeks, 120–130 railway workers have been working on the relevant section of track, carrying out track maintenance, substructure and drainage works at several locations.

Rails were replaced at an altitude of over 4,500 metres

During the works, 4,800 tonnes of crushed stone and 400 rebar were incorporated into the railway track, and more than 4,500 metres of track were replaced. The works also included the refurbishment of points, the modernisation of the drainage system, and the reinforcement of the track and substructure at several locations.
According to previous reports, the project covered seven different sections between Rétszilas and Dombóvár. At these locations, work was carried out to rectify track defects which had previously caused speed restrictions, and consequently longer journey times and delays.

Sáregres has been fitted with a state-of-the-art rubber-element underpass

One of the key elements of the maintenance work was the reconstruction of the railway level crossing on Széchenyi Street in Sáregres. A rubber-element system comprising Ponti-STRAIL prefabricated panels was installed at the level crossing, covering the surface areas between and alongside the rails. This solution ensures a smoother, more seamless road crossing at the railway junction. In the vicinity of the level crossing, the substructure was repaired over a distance of approximately 100 metres, the ballast was replaced and the rails were renewed, whilst the drainage ditches were also cleared.

The substructure has been reinforced in several sections

Over the past few weeks, ballast, rail and concrete sleeper replacement work has taken place at several locations between Rétszilas and Simontornya. Engineers repaired the track substructure and also carried out track realignment over a distance of more than 100 metres.
The work was also hampered by an explosive device found at the Simontornya worksite: work had to be suspended for nearly a day whilst the bomb disposal team carried out their operations. Despite this disruption, the specialists were able to complete the planned works.

The intervention could lead to faster and more predictable transport

As a result of the refurbishment, the previous speed restrictions will be lifted on several sections. According to Dávid Vitézy, by the end of the summer, trains will once again be able to travel 20–40 kilometres per hour faster on the affected sections. Whilst this in itself could mean a reduction in journey times of a few minutes, the most significant outcome of the investment may be a reduced risk of breakdowns, an improvement in the condition of the track, and more predictable services on the Budapest–Pécs main line.