Construction of the Zalaszentiván (HU) triangle track
TransportHungary
Hungary
Main benefits for the regional railway infrastructure are:
- removal of an important bottleneck on the EU Rail Freight Corridor RFC 11 (Amber),
- improving speed of railway traffic between the Szombathely – Zalaszentiván TEN-T Comprehensive and the Zalaszentiván – Hodos TEN-T Core Network railway lines,
- creation of additional track capacity as the new triangle track will be suitable for operational stops of 740m trains if needed,
- less track and operational capacity required at the existing tracks of Zalaszentiván station: additional capacity,
- the triangle track’s western node will provide access to a planned new intermodal freight terminal,
- a new railway stop for passenger trains at Zalaszentiván (named ’Szentivánvölgy’) with a 55 cm high platform suitable for people with reduced mobility closer to the centre of Zalaszentiván with parking places for cars and bycicles, interchange possiblities for regional busses.
Since the Hungarian railway infrastructure manager company, GYSEV Zrt. completed the electrification of the Rajka (HU-SK border) – Csorna (HU) – Szombathely (HU) – Zalaszentiván (HU) – Hodos (HU-SI border) railway corridor in 2016, north – south bound railway freight volumes along this corridor have been multiplied, meaning more than tripled. However, one of the major operational bottlenecks remained is still unsolved: for all trains on the above-mentioned relation a time-consuming change of direction at Zalaszentiván station is necessary.
The Zalaszentiván triangle track project aims the construction of a completly new 1,5 km long, single track, electrified railway connection on the western side of Zalaszentiván station making the change of direction unnecessary for trains on the Polish/Czech/Slovakian – Hungarian – Slovenian relation (Bratislava – Rajka – Csorna – Szombathely – Zalaszentiván – Hodos – Koper). The project includes also the construction of a new railway stop for passenger trains at Zalaszentiván (named ’Szentivánvölgy’) with a TSI conform 55 cm high platform.
The triangle track’s western node will provide access to a planned new intermodal freight terminal.
The project will remove an important bottleneck on the EU Rail Freight Corridor RFC 11 (Amber) and will improve the capacity and speed of railway traffic between the Szombathely – Zalaszentiván TEN-T Comprehensive and the Zalaszentiván – Hodos TEN-T Core Network railway lines.
The project is linked to the railway infrastructure of two railway companies (GYSEV and MÁV) as it establishes a new link between the Szombathely – Zalaszentiván railway line (operated by GYSEV) and the Zalaszentiván – Hodos railway line (operated by MÁV).