Dávid Vitézy announces 3,500 billion forint railway reform

Dávid Vitézy, the Minister of Transport and Investment, has announced a comprehensive 3,500 billion forint reform of the Hungarian railway and transportation sector. A central component of this plan is the establishment of the Országos Közlekedésszervező Zrt. (OKK), a state company that will manage passenger rights, ticket revenues, and timetable coordination.

As part of this restructuring, Vitézy has rescinded a previous directive issued by his predecessor, János Lázár, regarding the purchase of used Stadler GTW motor coaches from Switzerland. The previous instruction required MÁV to enter into long-term maintenance contracts for up to 93 vehicles. Vitézy halted the directive due to concerns over uncompetitive and excessively high maintenance costs, noting that the original arrangement involved companies perceived to be close to the previous administration.

While the purchase of the used vehicles is not cancelled, the ministry aims to renegotiate terms to ensure a cost-effective deal for taxpayers by the end of 2026. Additionally, MÁV is undergoing phased infrastructure upgrades on the Budapest-Cegléd-Szolnok line to reduce delays caused by deteriorating track conditions. These works include rail and ballast replacement in areas such as Abony, Kőbánya-Kispest, and Albertirsa to improve service predictability for the 50,000 daily passengers.