Debrecen4U
October 17, 2025
Railway line 106: development does not mean termination, but renewal
Railway developments affecting Debrecen—including the reconstruction of the Debrecen–Nagykereki line 106—are worth examining in a complex manner, as these investments do not serve to eliminate but rather to strengthen the region’s railway connections.
The aim of the Ministry of Construction and Transport’s development is to maintain a railway connection that can also be used for local traffic in addition to the high-speed railway, which also serves small settlements—including Sáránd, Derecske, Konyár, Pocsaj, Kismarja, and Nagykereki.
The new high-speed railway, line 104, will be built on the Debrecen–Berettyóújfalu section, while line 106 will remain in parallel, in a modernized form, for regional, suburban, and local traffic. The two lines run on the same track for the first 12 kilometers, then it branches off towards Berettyóújfalu on the new route 104, while the design task of line 106 extends to the Derecske-Vásártér stop but continues to provide access to smaller settlements via Derecske, Konyár, Pocsaj, and Nagykereki.
Lajos Barcsa, Deputy Mayor of Debrecen, highlighted at today’s press conference that the goal of the development is twofold: to preserve the regional railway connection and to create a direct, 21st-century railway connection between Debrecen and Oradea. As he said, one of the biggest transport shortcomings of recent decades is that there is no direct railway connection between the two border cities, and this deficiency is now being filled by the government in cooperation with the city administration. He stressed that railway line 106 will not be discontinued but will be renewed, while the new line 104 will enable a high-speed rail connection to Oradea. Lajos Barcsa reminded that the development is also of paramount importance for Debrecen because the new route will enable the expansion of the airport, including the extension of the runway, saying that the shift of line 106 to the west will not only help the development of the airport but will also be more favorable for the people living in the area, as the noise pollution will also be reduced.
Member of Parliament László Pósán emphasized that the debate surrounding the development of railway line 106 is unfortunately full of politically motivated misinformation and sensationalism. He said that the Mikepércsi Mothers for the Environment Association, which, in its opinion, is a local branch of the Tisza Party, and the left-wing press serving them, are spreading false claims that rail transport in the region will cease. The representative pointed out that MÁV has clearly indicated that during the development period, replacement buses will provide transportation, and that travel times may even improve. Line 106 will not be discontinued but will be renewed. László Pósán sharply criticized those actors who, for political reasons, obstructed the accessing of EU funds, and now, precisely because of the lack of these funds, MÁV is being held accountable for the lack of developments.
Both participants in the press conference confirmed that the investment serves the interests of the Debrecen and regional communities in every aspect and contributes to the long-term sustainable development of transport connections between Debrecen and the surrounding settlements.
Source and photo credit:debrecen.hu
