As part of a railway renewal project worth hundreds of billions of forints, the section of the Budapest–Pécs main line between Pusztaszabolcs and Pécs will undergo a comprehensive renovation funded by 272 billion forints. The goal is to eliminate forced speed reductions and improve schedule accuracy and travel times. The financing is backed by a 1-billion-euro railway loan package from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and domestic co-financing.
What exactly is happening? The renovation project aims to upgrade the track and related infrastructure on the Pusztaszabolcs–Pécs line (replacement of rails and switches, repair of the subgrade, replacement of turnouts, and work on safety equipment). The plan would increase the reliability and capacity of the main line; the detailed technical specifications and schedule will be finalized once the public procurement processes are completed.
How much money, and where is it coming from?
- Budget allocation: ~272 billion forints for the main line in Pécs.
Sources: the EIB’s €1 billion credit line and domestic co-financing; according to summaries published in the Hungarian Gazette, the project portfolio covers several railway investments nationwide.
Why is this important to Baranya?
- Fewer restrictions: reducing speed limits imposed due to track conditions.
- A more accurate schedule: more reliable connections, fewer last-minute changes.
- Economic impact: improved accessibility for Pécs and the surrounding area; regional freight transport could become more competitive.
Long-term reduction in travel time: the extent of this reduction depends on the final technical specifications (track speed, sidings, safety and telecommunications systems).
According to analyses, the majority of the loan will go toward completing track work that has been postponed for years, which could lead to a dramatic improvement in reliability in the short term.
When will construction begin, and what can we expect? Approval of the financing package was brought forward to the fall of 2025; the actual start of construction depends on the completion of the tender and permitting processes. During construction, intermittent track closures, replacement buses, and temporary schedules are expected.
Sources
- Pécs Aktuál: A 175-kilometer section of the main railway line in Pécs could be renovated with 272 billion forints (September 30, 2025). (Pécs Aktuál)
- HVG: The government has just realized that it missed out on 200 billion forints last year due to a typo… (September 26, 2025). (hvg.hu)
- mfor.hu: It has been revealed how MÁV is spending its 400-billion-forint mega-loan (September 26, 2025). (mfor.hu – Management Forum)
- HVG: The loan that, according to Lázár… has been preliminarily approved (Oct. 3, 2025). (hvg.hu)
- Telex/G7: Analysis of the EIB Loan and Related Risks (July 27, 2025). (telex)
