Szeged tram-train to go to Subotica

The Hungarian government is planning to make Szeged the center of the South Alfold region. Among other things, this is the purpose of the construction of the regional tram-train network with Szeged as the center. The investment covers Subotica as well. Janos Lazar, a Fides MP and the government's commissioner for development, said this for the Promenad portal from Hodmezovasarhely.

Lazar said that the objective of the construction of the tram-train system was for the stagnating communities in the region to be raised to the level of medium-sized strong cities and offer the quality of life that makes it worth staying in one's birthplace. An important prerequisite for it is transport, because, if they can get to a large city more easily, where they can find the services they need, then they don't have to move there. An easier access makes life in a small town more attractive. Lazar said that it was also important that an electrical transportation system reduces the emission of harmful matters, it is reported on the gradsubotica website.

The tram-train line will not only be built on the Hungarian side, however. It is also meant to connect Szeged with Subotica. This would be carried out within the first step, as investments are planned on a wider level. The long-term goal is the construction of the South Railway, which would connect Debrecen, Bekescsaba, Szeged, Subotica, Baja and Pecs. The construction will start next year by a symbolic connecting of Szeged and Subotica, Lazar said.

The commissioner also advised the Hungarian government to urgently initiate the reconstruction of the Budapest-Szeged railway, whose condition is very poor. The aim is for the traveling time between the centers of these two cities to be brought down to an hour and 45 minutes. Another important project is the connecting of Debrecen and Szeged, and the proposition is for Highway 47 to be expanded to four lanes.

– The tram-train technology is very interesting, as it involves using a tram for inter-city transport. Its construction in Szeged will be a kind of a test, because, if it proves to be efficient, it can serve as an example for the reorganization of traffic on the periphery of Budapest, so it's not surprising that Brussels and the government are supporting the investment – Lazar said.

– According to the estimates, the tram-train between Szeged and Vasarhely would make the daily commute more comfortable for five to ten thousand people. The investment is moving along nicely. This is a complex technical and technological project. Train cars are being built and will be delivered in 2020. We are working on putting the system into operation in the autumn of 2021 – Lazar said.

The construction of the Szeged-Subotica tram-train section will begin after the Szeged- Hodmezovasarhely section is completed. It is important to stick to the deadlines, because once the reconstruction of the Subotica-Budapest railway starts, the plan is to move the traffic to the Subotica-Szeged-Budapest line. If there are delays for any reason, the reconstruction of the Belgrade-Budapest railway section will be moved as well.

Szeged

Janos Lazar

Debrecen

Bekescsaba

Subotica

Baja

Pecs

train

tram train

Fides