Hitachi Rail completes ETCS upgrade on Hungary-Ukraine freight corridor
Hitachi Rail has completed the installation of ETCS signalling on the 110 km Szajol-Debrecen line in Hungary, enabling speeds of up to 160 km/h.
The project, announced on 10 October, deploys ETCS Level 2 from Szajol to Ebes and ETCS Level 1 from Ebes to Debrecen. The previous maximum speed on the electrified double-track line was 120 km/h.
The upgrade serves eight stations and includes 250 points. Operations are managed remotely from a control centre in Püspökladány using Hitachi Rail’s centralised traffic control system.
The contract was originally awarded to Thales by Hungary’s National Infrastructure Development Company in January 2020. Hitachi Rail completed the project after acquiring Thales’ Ground Transportation Systems business for EUR 1.66 billion in May 2024.
Strategic freight artery
The line forms part of the TEN-T Orient/East-Med Core Network Corridor and carries significant international freight traffic towards Ukraine and Romania. The Chop-Záhony border crossing between Ukraine and Hungary has become a major entry point for Ukrainian exports to the EU since the war began.
The route also serves BMW’s EUR 2 billion assembly plant in Debrecen, which opened in September 2025 and began producing the electric iX3 model in October.
According to Hitachi Rail’s announcement, György Mikics, Managing Director of Hitachi Rail in Hungary, stated that the installation enhances international rail connectivity and positions Hungary as a vital link in the Trans-European rail network.
The big picture: The completion contributes to TEN-T requirements for ETCS deployment across core network corridors by 2030. Hitachi Rail previously installed ETCS Level 2 on the Ferencváros-Monor section in 2023, extending digital signalling from Budapest towards the Ukrainian border.
Why it matters: The upgrade strengthens one of Central Europe’s key freight corridors at a time when rail routes to Ukraine face capacity constraints. Enhanced speeds and signalling reliability support both commercial freight operations and Hungary’s role as a logistics hub for automotive and agricultural exports.