Kőszeg’s intermodal hub could be completed in two years’ time

Back in 2020, we wrote about the planning of Kőszeg’s intermodal hub (IMCS). It took a long time before the public procurement tender for the construction work. We can now report that the contractor has been selected and construction can begin. The team at Generál Mély- és Magasépítő Zrt. will have 23 months to complete the complex development of Kőszeg railway station.

As part of the investment, worth approximately 2.5 billion forints, on the railway station site, between the station building and the tracks, a new local and intercity bus station may be created by extending the shared train-bus platform developed under project GYSEV Zrt., resulting in the creation of six additional bus bays for boarding and alighting, in addition to the two already in place.

Three covered waiting areas and one enclosed, climate-controlled platform shelter are also being built on the shared platform.

Railway tracks are also being rebuilt, and new roads are being built

A new 95-metre-long public road is being constructed in the woodland area alongside the railway line, running from the extension of the shared platform to the junction with the A87. The station will be accessible from the south-west via the A87, and passengers will be able to leave via the new public road.

A 54-space Park & Ride car park is to be built following the demolition of the 252-metre industrial track located on the site and the adjacent warehouse building. Along with the demolition of the track, the junction must also be removed, which will require the construction of 34 metres of main track in the junction branch and track realignment over 70 metres. Three disabled parking spaces will be provided in the car park.

The P+R car park will be accessible via Vasútállomás Street, which is being rebuilt along a new 54-metre-long route from Road 87 to the boarding building.

A traffic-light-controlled junction and three new pedestrian crossings will also improve access to the station, where seven K+R parking spaces will be created in the area in front of the station building, running parallel to the carriageway. To reduce traffic at the planned traffic-light-controlled junction at the intersection of Szombathelyi út – Rákóczi F. utca – Vasútállomás utca – Alsó krt. junction, a relief road will be built between Pogányi utca and Cáki út, spanning a total of 524 metres, to which a separate, 1.5-metre-wide pavement on one side will also be constructed.

North of the bus depot, a bus park with capacity for ten buses will be built; at the junction of the new road to be constructed here and the 87 main road, a traffic-light-controlled junction will be built with two new pedestrian crossings; in addition, a 390-metre section of the 87 will be resurfaced.

A cycle bridge is also being built

The Kőszegfalva cycle path will be connected to the intermodal hub on the right-hand side of the A87, and will cross the main road to link up with the cycle bridge being built as part of the local authority’s investment project.

The planned 391-metre-long footpath and cycle path will cross the railway tracks separately from the road crossing, where a 3.6-metre-wide cycle and pedestrian level crossing will be constructed, with a rubber-tiled surface within the track zone. The crossing will require changes to the track layout, so the railway track will need to be replaced and realigned, alongside the relocation of a public address column.

Between the junction of Vasútállomás Street and the road leading to the terminus, a 47-metre-long, two-way cycle path will branch off from the shared footpath and cycle path, leading to the B+R storage facility next to the station building, designed by GYSEV Zrt..

Both buildings and green spaces are being renovated

Certain interior spaces within the station building are also being refurbished: a dedicated office block (traffic control room, break room, ticket office, etc.) is being created for MÁV Személyszállítási Zrt., whilst the passenger waiting area and toilet facilities are also being renovated (covering a total area of 183 m²).

The green spaces in the area are also being revitalised, and a park will be created in front of the railway station's ticket office.

This will require grass planting over an area of 3,947 m², and the planting of 8,285 plants.