Hungary is modernizing part of the Eastern Mediterranean Corridor

The Austrian construction company Strabag, through its Hungarian subsidiary Strabag Rail, has signed a contract to upgrade and lay a second 30-kilometer track between Békéscsaba and Lőkösháza stations on the border with Romania.

Located in the southeastern part of Hungary, the site is part of the Eastern Mediterranean corridor, providing access to Romanian cities via Arad station.

The contract, estimated at 364m euros, will be implemented by Strabag as part of a consortium with an unnamed Hungarian partner. Strabag's share in it will be 66%. The work is planned to be completed within 33 months.

Currently, the maximum speed of this single-wheeled section is 100 km / h, and the permissible axle load is 21 tons. The modernization of the section will increase the axle load to 22.5 tons and the maximum speed to 160 km / h.

In addition to the construction of the second track, the contract provides for the construction of a catenary, the renewal of signaling systems and the introduction of the European train control system ETCS. In addition, three stations will be upgraded. Kétegyháza and Lőkösháza stations are being renovated to provide unimpeded access for people with reduced mobility.

The Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) has already allocated 3.66m euros to the project. Preparatory work before the start of construction of the second track between Békéscsaba and Lőkösháza is estimated at 5.23m euros. EU funding covers the preparation of a set of documentation needed to modernize this section.