Budapest Extends M3 Metro Northward with EU Funding

The Hungarian government confirmed that European Union funds will finance the long‑awaited northern extension of Budapest’s busiest metro line, M3. The project will push the line beyond its current terminus at Újpest‑központ to the Rákospalota‑Újpest railway station, creating a new interchange with suburban rail services. The extension was announced by Transport and Investment Minister Dávid Vitézy during the presentation of the Baross Gábor Railway Development Plan, a ten‑year, HUF 3.55 trillion (≈ €9.7 billion) rail‑modernisation programme.

Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony hailed the decision as a “historic day” for public transport, noting that previous government delays had left the capital without major metro investment for over a decade. Detailed plans already exist to further extend the M3 line to Káposztásmegyer, one of the city’s largest residential districts, though only the first phase to Rákospalota‑Újpest will be built initially. The extension is part of a broader effort to modernise Hungary’s rail network, add new InterCity trains, replace the HÉV suburban fleet, and improve links to the airport.