Debrecen4U March 23, 2026

Developments Affecting the Main Railway Station and Its Surroundings

The platform underpass at Debrecen’s Main Railway Station will be renovated, and the surrounding area of the station will become safer. Details of the developments were presented at a press conference held on site on 20 March 2026.

“We have been working for a long time to ensure that the city’s public transport undergoes dynamic development. There are responsibilities for the city and for the government,” said Mayor László Papp. The mayor pointed out that over the past 10 to 12 years, significant progress has been made in Debrecen’s public transport, from the launch of Tram Line 2 through the complete replacement of the bus fleet to the introduction of an integrated fare system. “We have made very significant progress, and these decisions have improved the quality of the city’s transport services in terms of comfort, while also making public transport more affordable for passengers thanks to the integrated fare system,” emphasised László Papp.

He highlighted that suburban railway developments play an important role in Debrecen’s future, which is why it is particularly significant that, following a full track reconstruction, the line between Debrecen and Balmazújváros has been renovated and rail services resumed a few weeks ago, with electrification expected around May.

“With regard to Debrecen’s future transport development, particular emphasis must be placed on suburban rail. From this perspective, the line between Debrecen and Balmazújváros is of great importance, while the public procurement procedure for the reconstruction of the Debrecen–Nyíregyháza railway line is also nearing completion, which will likewise represent a suburban rail connection,” László Papp said.

In this context, he noted that the conditions for upgrading the Debrecen–Budapest railway line to allow speeds of 160 km/h are also nearing completion, and trains could be operating at this speed by the end of the year.

The mayor added that changes are also ongoing in the area around the railway station: a water utility reconstruction is currently under way on Erzsébet Street, the transport system of the surrounding area will be reviewed to ensure smoother traffic flow, and, in addition, the design of the underpass at the station will begin. László Papp recalled that reconstruction linked to the railway infrastructure of the Main Railway Station is necessary, and that in 2025 he reached an agreement with Minister of Construction and Transport János Lázár to grant priority status to the development of the station.

“Safety, development and prosperity – these are the concepts that characterise the development of Debrecen. Hungary is one of the safest countries in Europe, and according to statistics from recent years, including Debrecen is the safest city with county rights in Hungary,” said Deputy Mayor Lajos Barcsa.

He added that Petőfi Square and the area around the Nagyállomás are key focal points of the city, which is why civil guards and police officers regularly patrol the area to maintain public safety.

In this context, he noted that 350 public surveillance cameras currently support the work of the police in Debrecen, with certain cameras monitored around the clock at the control centre. The deputy mayor announced that, in order to further enhance public safety, eight additional cameras will be installed in the area around the station and will be operational within a month.

Deputy Mayor Diána Széles emphasised that, thanks to the installation of additional cameras, the entire area of the station will be covered. She noted that, in order to further improve safety, vegetation around the station and the nearby 24-storey residential block will also be replanted, taking into account feedback from the police and local residents. Existing shrubs in the area will be replaced with flowers.

“It is very important that the “gateway” of a city is of an appropriate quality, which is why we support the government’s commitment and intention to jointly renovate the Main Railway Station and its surroundings, as this is a shared goal that can provide a defining experience not only for residents but also for visitors,” she underlined.

Diána Széles added that during a previous local inspection, residents requested the renovation of pavements, the installation of benches and the improvement of the playground in the Erzsébet Street and Ispotály Street area. She highlighted that the contractor has already begun repairing the pavements. “Our aim is for people to feel that it is good to live here,” she concluded.

Zsolt Hegyi, CEO of the MÁV Group, said that in a rapidly developing city like Debrecen it is essential to make public transport as attractive and popular as possible. He noted that the introduction of the integrated fare system had been a good decision, as the number of county travel passes in Hajdú-Bihar has increased by more than 50%.

He highlighted that in the coming period, significant progress can be made at the station itself to ensure that all passengers passing through it receive more comfortable, higher-quality services. As a first step, the underpass will be upgraded to provide a more comfortable, civilised and higher-standard crossing.

“This underpass is more than 50 years old, and its reinforced concrete structure has deteriorated and corroded. There have also been leaks in the past, which worsened its condition, so the structure must be completely rebuilt. This reconstruction begins with the design phase, and we will sign the contract for this next week,” he explained. As he said, this will be a refurbishment-style reconstruction that will ensure the usability of the underpass for decades. The design will be completed this year, and implementation will follow next year. He added that the renovation and reconstruction of the underpass will be complemented by making the station fully accessible.

“The underpass will be designed in such a way that lifts can be installed, and the platforms will also be slightly raised to meet European accessibility standards. The design phase will take place in 2026, with construction scheduled for 2027,” he said. He also noted that the Ministry of Construction and Transport and MÁV Group have jointly decided to sell the administrative building on Piac Street, which is only minimally used by MÁV. The property has already been put out to tender through the standard open procedure of the Hungarian National Asset Management.

“The proceeds from the sale of the Piac Street office building may be used exclusively for transport development in Debrecen. I believe that the full accessibility upgrade of this station can be realised as the first such development from these funds,” stressed Zsolt Hegyi. He added that anyone may apply to purchase the building; MÁV has commissioned three independent valuations, the highest of which is HUF 4 billion.

Speaking about the station building, he said that has become outdated since its construction in 1961, with several structural issues. “This station building must be renovated We are also counting on private capital in this renewal, as a railway station in the country’s second-largest city naturally offers numerous commercial opportunities. However, this is a railway station, a public facility, and it must be renewed in a way that provides 21st-century services,” he concluded.

Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu