The country's busiest railway section may be modernised

Applications are being accepted until 10 March for the renovation of a 2.5 km electrified, double-track section of the 100 railway line (Budapest – Szolnok – Debrecen – Nyíregyháza – Záhony) by MÁV Pályaműködtetési Zrt.. The successful bidder will have 120 days to complete the full modernisation of the track between the Városliget junction and Kőbánya-Teher railway station.

The last time it was substantially altered was half a century ago.

Although the section of line 100 closer to the capital (Budapest–Cegléd–Szolnok) is the busiest line in the country, with more than 200 passenger and freight trains per day, its last comprehensive renovation took place in the early 1970s, and as a result, the entire infrastructure is outdated. This is why a speed limit of 40-60 km/h is currently in force instead of the originally permitted 80 km/h.

The maximum permissible axle load here is 210 kN, and the track largely runs on a 4-5 metre high embankment built in the 1940s, while in the vicinity of the stations (Kőbánya-Teher, Kőbánya-Kispest) it runs at ground level.

There are a significant number of large structures along the embankment section (Thököly út, Egressy út, Mogyoródi út, Kerepesi út). The horizontal alignment is characterised by track separation in the vicinity of the island platform stop (Zugló), with a typical track centre distance of 4 metres.