Budapest east tangent S-Bahn
This urban-regional line (S-Bahn) is an addition to the proposed Budapest urban-regional metro. It would use the existing alignment of the line out of Nyugati pályaudvar (Western Station, in fact north of the city centre) to Kőbánya-Kispest Station. (This is the first section of Hungarian rail line 100, Budapest – Szolnok – Debrecen). Trains would start at Nyugati Station, on the surface: this is intended as a tangential line, and a U-turn into the proposed north-south S-Bahn line is not logical. Part of the tangential line would be shared with the the proposed east-west S-Bahn line coming from Keleti Station, with the proposed southern tangent S-Bahn line from Kelenföld Station, and with the proposed ring S-Bahn line. The east tangent could also connect at Kőbánya-Kispest Station with an outer ring line.
An intensive urban service requires an upgrade and 4-tracking of the line, and new stations. Starting from Nyugati, the first possible stations are at Dózsa György út, and alongside the Mexikói út metro station (metro line 1). Extension of metro line 1 is planned, from Mexikói út to Rákosrendező station, on the main line north from Nyugati to Vác.
The existing station at Budapest-Zugló is next. After 2010, there will be interchange here with the new metro line 4. A new station at Kerepesi út would give reasonable interchange with metro line 2: Pillangó utca station is about 300 meter to the east.
The line then crosses the line to the east out of Keleti station,line 120 to Békéscsaba. A new station here would give interchange with the east-west S-Bahn line out of Keleti toward Rákos. It could also serve the exhibition centre Hungexpo, although it is about 500 meters from the entrance. The relationship with the east-west lines at this location is shown below.
About 800 meters further is the existing Kőbánya alsó station. An intermediate station is possible at the crossing of Gyömrői út and Kőér út, before the line reaches Kőbánya-Kispest Station, an interchange station for main-line trains, and the current terminus of metro line 3. The station would need to be reconstructed, which would improve its present appearance.
The exact pattern of services beyond Kőbánya-Kispest is not considered here. The proposed S-Bahn network would have several lines entering Kőbánya-Kispest Station, and several leaving it. Which is best connected to which, is a matter for detailed traffic analysis.
