While the 222 total metro cars are said to have been renovated, nearly every element of them has been entirely replaced according to Russian engineers who worked on the project. Only the driver’s cabin door remained from the original construction, and an expert from the Association for the Metro Endre Biró told index.hu that only 1-2 percent of the renovated cars remained from original components.

Most of the main parts, including the engines, brakes, frame and chassis, are reportedly brand new and of western design. The new cars also reportedly feature a working ventilation system.

Renewing the metro trains is only one step in the long process of modernizing Budapest’s M3 line. Lack of funds precluded the purchase of brand new trains, and the condition of the metro rails and other infrastructural components have been shown to be “at critical levels.”

But financial and political conflicts between the city of Budapest, the Hungarian government, and the European Union have drawn out the process of finally awarding a contract to companies able to undertake the project.

Meanwhile, the poor conditions have led to consistent fire scares and service interruptions: 74 such interruptions occurred on the M3 in 2016 alone, but so far, no contractor has been found that is willing to perform the job for the price offered by the city.

MTI Photo: Balogh Zoltán

Source: The Budapest Beacon

Republished with permission