Hungarian minister: Mistakes made on Belgrade-Budapest railway project

Hungary's new Minister of Transport and Investment, David Vitezi, has publicly acknowledged significant problems within the Belgrade-Budapest railway project, stating that "mistakes were made on multiple levels." In a parliamentary address, Vitezi expressed doubt about whether Hungary and Serbia had effectively managed the development of this crucial rail link.

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The answer is probably negative. It is enough to look at the connectivity of important transport hubs such as Budapest International Airport, Kecskemét and Szeged.

Vitezi highlighted issues with the connectivity of major transport hubs, including Budapest's international airport, Kecskemét, and Szeged. He stressed the need for transparency, urging Hungarian authorities to request that Chinese counterparts make contracts, amendments, and all related documentation, including cost and invoice data, publicly available.

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The situation is not yet fully resolved. Although the completion of the work on the line has been postponed due to certain problems, numerous technical and safety issues remain open. As already mentioned, the signaling and railway traffic management systems have not yet been fully put into operation.

The project faces ongoing delays due to unresolved technical and safety concerns. Vitezi revealed that crucial systems for signaling and traffic management are not yet fully operational, necessitating additional testing and verification. He emphasized that the system cannot be activated or fully paid for until it demonstrably meets all required safety standards.

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It is certain that the system cannot be put into operation, nor can it be fully paid for until it is proven that it meets all prescribed safety standards.

Addressing claims about Chinese contractors' competence, Vitezi noted that the contract indicated prior knowledge of specific technical solutions. However, he pointed out a major flaw: the railway was designed for speeds up to 200 km/h and built on a largely new route, yet it retains numerous level crossings. These crossings restrict the practical operating speed on certain sections to 160 km/h, undermining the line's high-speed potential.

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We built a railway for 200 kilometers per hour, but on some sections the speed will be limited to 160 kilometers per hour precisely because of those unresolved crossings.