Plans are in place for a new depot and track modernisation to accommodate the CAF trams

The two projects relate to the expansion of Budapest’s tram fleet with 51 new, state-of-the-art, low-floor CAF trams. The operation of these trams also requires the development of the depots responsible for maintenance and the tram tracks. As a result of the recently concluded public procurement process, the modernisation of tram line 14 will be designed by the experts at Ring Mérnöki Iroda, whilst the development of the Angyalföld depot will be designed by the experts at Kulcsár Építészstúdió. The combined net value of the two contracts is 248.05 million forints – as revealed in the public procurement notice.

A 400-square-metre hall is planned for the depot

As well as carrying out comprehensive maintenance on the existing Tatra T5C5K and T5C5K2 trams, the Angyalföld depot will also play a role in servicing the short CAF trams to be relocated from Budafok. The depot will be responsible for refilling the sand in the trams, which is necessary for putting them into daily service. The sand-filling equipment may be housed in a new workshop building with a usable floor area of 400 square metres, adjacent to the existing hall. The remit of Kulcsár Építészstúdió is to design the building and all associated specialist works, as well as to prepare for the development of the depot infrastructure required to accommodate the new trams. The contract also covers the design of the modernisation of eighteen site-specific turnouts.
In addition to the survey documentation and the conceptual design, the designer is also responsible for preparing the planning permission, notification and construction drawings. The task also includes drawing up organisational plans, the construction schedule, and both costed and uncosted design cost estimates.

The route of tram No. 14 is to be rebuilt at several points

The Ring Mérnöki Iroda project plans the track-side works required for the CAF trams to operate on Line 14. The work also includes preparations for the conversion of the points to radio-controlled operation.
Preparations are underway to modernise 120 running metres of track at both the junctions of Lehel út and Dózsa György út, and Pozsonyi utca and Tél utca. In the István út–Lőrincz utca area, the modernisation of the counter-curves will affect 200 running metres of track. In addition to the refurbishment of three turnouts, plans must also be drawn up for the modernisation of a further 500 metres of track. In addition to the signalling systems, the developments also include the redesign of the tram distribution complex for trams 12 and 14 on Külső Szilágyi utca, affecting 200 metres of track and two turnouts.

Preparing public procurement tenders for construction works is also part of the role

Both contracts include comprehensive design preparation. The successful bidders will be responsible for obtaining the official licences, consents and approvals required to commence construction, as well as for compiling the relevant sections of the construction tender documentation. Risk analyses and preliminary studies will also be carried out for the line-related developments. The designers must also compile the documentation for the owners, managers and operators, and must cooperate with the clients and contractors of the related projects.