KELETI RAILWAY STATION IS ALSO READY FOR THE M4 TEST IN TRAFFIC OPERATION
The National Transport Authority has issued the completion certificate for the Keleti Railway Station stop of Metro Line M4, too, which has created the theoretical possibility of passengers taking it into possession in March. The terminal of the line is one of the most important junctions in Budapest traffic, and so proportionate surface reinstatement works have been going on in Baross tér and the surrounding area. The completion of these is expected before the Test in Traffic Operation begins in March 2014.
The stop at Keleti Railway Station is one of the terminals of Metro Line M4, the construction of which required major surface works, as well. The square and the surrounding area will be completely renewed by March: plenty of pedestrian and rest areas will be created, pavements renewed, and a semi-open-top subway will enable quick and safe transfer between various means of public transport. Under the end of Thököly and the Baross tér, not only was a metro station built, but also a 240-metre long turn-out tunnel serving the terminal function for the trains, i.e. to turn them back into the Kelenföld Railway Station direction. The square is already an important traffic junction, which will be further enhanced by Metro Line M4. With the completion of the station of the new metro line, the railway station serving a great number of domestic and international rail passengers, as well as several other means of public transport will be connected here.
Like the station at II. János Pál pápa tér, the Pest terminal of the line has a dominantly functionalist form, and an inner space smaller than usually along the line. The platform is only 16 metres below the surface, and the glass wall separating the station from the subway towards Kerepesi út lets natural light into the service area. Transfer to Metro Line M2 is enabled by a subway link newly built. The platform level leads in two directions: towards the subway and the gallery level. The surface can be reached via 3-3 sets of escalators and 2 lifts. The architectural specialities of the station include the slanted sidewalls of the two sides of the station and beam structure supporting the walls. The station is characterized by purified stylistic features. Apart from natural light, the so-called truncated fair-face concrete walls are lit by lamp fittings set in the beams, and passenger information will be provided by a LED wall at the subway end of station.
Mayor’s Office of the Municipality of Budapest
Budapest Transport Centre (BKK)
BKV Zrt. DBR Metro Project Directorate
Photos by Anna Váczi and Péter Maróti