Southern Ring Railway shutdown could extend existing traffic restrictions for years

Budapest's Southern Ring Railway project has been suspended, raising the risk that traffic curbs introduced for the works may linger well beyond the planned 2027 deadline, possibly extending by one and a half to two years. Koji László, head of the national builders' union, highlighted that the interruption leaves payments to subcontractors and material suppliers in limbo, endangering smaller companies that depend on the contract.

He distinguished between any overpricing in the main contractor deal and the rightful compensation owed to subcontractors. Transport specialist Andó Gergely warned that commuters will have to cope with the existing restrictions for a longer period, and noted that the line's full benefits will only materialise with further upgrades, such as a quarter-hour service to Ferihegy Airport. The Competition Authority has launched an investigation into the project's circumstances, and V-Híd has been instructed to exit the construction, with a new tender to be issued.