SZEGED-TIMISOARA DREAM RAILWAY

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-A Romania-Hungary

Date of latest update: 2025-02-18

Description

Description (EN):

Transport infrastructure is fundamental for the mobility of the persons and goods and for the territorial cohesion of the European Union. An integrated market with freedom of movement for goods, persons and services can not operate without providing transportation networks that link the regions, construction of these networks help spur economic growth and employment as well. Mobility is key to our quality of life and is vital for the EU’s competitiveness. TEN-T corridors touch both Hungary and Romania, but the connection between main towns of the cross-border region, namely Timisoara and Szeged is not ensured. Reaching towns connected by railway transport is only possible with a significant loss of time and at an inappropriate level of service. In the Timisoara-Szeged relation, the approximately 120 km distance is covered by two ways: Timisoara-Békéscsaba-Szeged distance which lasts 6 hours to take and Timisoara-Arad-Békéscsaba-Szeged which lasts 7 hours 32 minutes to take. The lack of the direct railway line intersecting the DKMT Euroregion is a significant problem not only from the point of view of passenger transport but also from the point of view of goods transport, its social and economic impact is also negative. As regards passenger transport, the railway line can also function as a suburban railway, and it also can offer an alternative solution for commuters in the suburbs of Szeged, Makó, Sannicolau Mare, Jimbolia and Timisoara, etc. depending on the route which will be chosen during the implementation of the project. The Timisoara-Szeged transversal line can be a part of an overland connection between the two largest ports of the Adriatic Sea and the Black Sea, as part of the trunk line between Fiume (Rijeka) and Constanta, so it creates a possibility for freight transport between the ports not to be realised on overloaded public roads but on railway. The application of this transport mode decreases environmental load and therefore ensures sustainability for the inhabitants in an indirect way. The direct objective of the project is the elaboration of the design documentation, with specific studies and expertise, and other documentation in relation with environmental and sustainability issues concerning on Timisoara-Szeged railway line. The main outputs are: feasibility study for the Szeged-Timisoara railway line, Climate resilience test document, Natura 2000 impact assessment document, Wildlife survey document, DNSH assessment document, 24 workshops for the members of the partnership and other interested parties, experts. The lack of the direct railway line intersecting the cross-border region is a significant problem not only from the point of view of passenger transport but also from the point of view of goods transport, its social and economic impact is also negative. As a result of the project it can be expected that the decision makers on national and European level will be convinced that the construction of the cross-border railway line is a real demand of the border region in social, economic and environmental mean. The realization of the railway line helps the economic development of the region, as economic service and logistic units can be established along the transport line. Educational and cultural relationships strengthen on both sides of the border through the movement of persons, since it will be possible to visit performances and cultural events. Students and teachers of the universities of Szeged and Timisoara will have the opportunity to exchange teachers and students using public transport. Flights from the Timisoara airport will also be available from Szeged and other settlements. The Szeged-Timisoara railway line can be connected with other public transport lines within the DKMT Euroregion (Szeged-Subotica-Baja railway, Arad railway, Resita railway) and thus a Euroregional public transport network can be formed. The novelty of the project lies in the fact that the demand for the Szeged-Timisoara railway line started as a bottom-up initiative on the part of the DKMT Euroregion and the county governments/provinces that make up its members, and the county governments and the Euroregion take the first steps in terms of planning together. This grassroots initiative was embraced by both Hungary and Romania, as a result of which Minister Péter Szijjártó and Minister Sorin Grindeanu signed the memorandum on the Szeged-Timisoara railway on July 24, 2024.

Expected Achievements (EN): Elaborating the design documentation for the railway in Romanian side of the RO-HU border, according to a unitary concept for the realization of the Szeged - Timișoara railway

Project outputs: Joint Railway Investment Plan(EN)
Organisations cooperating across borders(EN)
Participations in workshops(EN)

Thematic information

Transport and mobility Logistics and freight transport

Priority: (VI-A_RO-HU_P3) A more sustainable, community-based and effective cross-border cooperation

Priority specific objective: ISO6.2. Enhance efficient public administration by promoting legal and administrative cooperation and cooperation between citizens, civil society actors and institutions, in particular with a view to resolving legal and other obstacles in border regions (strands A, C, D and, where appropriate, strand B)

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO6 (ISO1) A better cooperation governance

Type of intervention: 171 Enhancing cooperation with partners both within and outside the Member State

Partners (3)

Lead Partner: DKMT Duna-Körös-Maros-Tisza Eurorégiós Fejlesztési Ügynökség Nonprofit Közhasznú Kft.

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 912074608

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 21803310-2-06

Address: Tábor, 6722 Szeged, Hungary

Department address: Tábor, 6722 Szeged, Hungary

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Other

Website: http://www.dkmt.net

Total budget: EUR 725 562.68

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 580 450.14

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 145 112.54

Csongrád-Csanád Vármegye Önkormányzata

Name: Csongrád-Csanád Vármegye Önkormányzata

Department: Department of Territorial development

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 15726621-2-06 | 726621

Address: Tisza Lajos blvd, 6720 Szeged, Hungary

Department address: Tisza Lajos blvd, 6720 Szeged, Hungary

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: https://www.csongradcsanad.hu/site/

Total budget: EUR 1 028 705.78

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 822 964.62

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 205 741.16

JUDEȚUL TIMIȘ

Name: JUDEȚUL TIMIȘ

Department: Sustainable Development and Investments Department

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 930965358

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 4358029

Address: Blv. Revolutiei din 1989, 300034 Timisoara, Romania

Department address: Blv. Revolutiei din 1989, 300034 Timisoara, Romania

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://www.cjtimis.ro

Total budget: EUR 1 851 076.80

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 1 480 861.44

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 370 215.36

Partners map

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Operation of strategic importance (OSI) or above EUR 5 million

Project name (EN): SZEGED-TIMISOARA DREAM RAILWAY

Project acronym: DREAM

Project ID: ROHU00632

Project start date: 2024-12-23

Project end date: 2027-12-22

Project status: ongoing

Relevant linked projects:

ROHU 452 project: JEDI - Joint Employment Driven Initiative (EN) | The foreseen investment in the railway between Szeged and Timisoara will facilitate the cross-border
mobility of labor force on both sides of the frontier by offering an efficient and comfortable way of travelling between Timiș and Csongrad Csanad Counties. The labor force mobility is one of the major objectives of the Strategic Project JEDI - Joint Employment Development Initiative, financed within Interreg VA 2014-2020 Romania Hungary. The foreseen investment will facilitate the access to the CCIPT (Timișoara Community Lifelong Learning Center) infrastructure built. (EN), ROHU 321 project - Mures Green Bridge (EN) | The ROHU 321 project overall objectiv is ”Elaboration of the Mureș Green Bridge-MGB Feasibility Study for improving Timiș - Csongrád-Csanád connectivity, reducing costs, duration for passengers and goods transportation, using solutions meeting highest requirements of green-blue infrastructure protection and biodiversity preservation in the Mureș Meadow and future capitalization through financing of the execution works according to Sep 1st 2023 RO-HU MoU for Reconstruction of the Bridge over the Mureș River between Cenad and Magyarcsanád”.
The overall objectiv of the proposed project is to strength the mutual relations between Romania and Hungary by developing the transport infrastructure, which is the precondition of improving the economic, cultural and social development of the citizens living in the cross-border area.
Both projects are implemented in the same area, Timis County and Csongrád-Csanád County, and are aimed to improve and facilitate the mobility of the people and goods between the two neighbor areas and to create the premise of a sustainable growth of the cross-border area targeted by the Programme. (EN), HUSRB/0901/112/153 (EN) | In November 2011 the Feasibility Study concerning Szeged-Röszke-Horgos-Subotica-Csikéria-Bácsalmás-Baja railway line was completed. This project can also be seen as good practice, since a feasibility study of a cross-border railway line of similar length to the Szeged-Timisoara railway has also been completed, the lead partner of which project was also DKMT Euroregional Development Agency. The completed feasibility study can serve as a model for the feasibility study of the Szeged-Temesvár railway line, since the two railway lines can connect to each other in Szeged and, as a common railway line, with a coordinated timetable, a transport connection can even be created from Timisoara to Baja. (EN), HUSRB/1601/22/0002 strategic project (EN) | The objective of the project was to develop the design documentation for the Subotica-Bácsalmás-Baja section (a section formerly not covered by design documentations) of the Szeged-Subotica-Bácsalmás-Baja railway line on the basis of the existing feasibility study, and with the same technical content as the Szeged-Subotica section and the elaboration of spatial plan for special purposes of the infrastructure corridor of the Subotica – state border with Hungary (Csikéria) railway track in Serbia and modification of the urban development plans in Hungary for the towns and villages affected by the development of the railway line. As a result of the project, the permit for the construction of this railway section is already available, the construction of the railway track can be started at any time. The technical content of this project can be a good model for the Szeged-Timisoara railway line, especially if the transversal transport corridor crossing the DKMT Euroregion is created and these railway lines can be used to travel from Baja to Timisoara. DKMT Euroregional Development Agency was the project partner in this project. (EN), HUSRB/1203/111/038 (EN) | The objective of the project was to prepare the designs for approval (DfA) of the Szeged-Röszke-Horgos-Subotica railway line section, base documentation of the future transport network that underpins the modification of the regulation plans concerning Subotica-Csikéria-Bácsalmás-Baja section and the environmental impact Assessment concerning the Subotica-Csikéria-Bácsalmás-Baja section. With the completion of the project, Serbia and Hungary decided to build the railway line based on the plans completed in the Interreg project, which has since been completed, and passenger traffic started in 2023 between Szeged and Subotica.The technical content of this project can be a good model for the Szeged-Timisoara railway line, especially if the transversal transport corridor crossing the DKMT Euroregion is created and these railway lines can be used to travel from Subotica to Timisoara. DKMT Euroregional Development Agency was the project partner in this project. (EN), HUSRB/1203/111/026 (EN) | The objective of the project was to establish a cargo border control point in the Szeged basin port, to set up a floating dock in the city centre part of the river in Szeged to solve border crossing at the Tisa and the development of the border pontoon necessary for mooring at Kanjiza. The scouring of the entry channel of the Szeged basin port was implemented in the framework of the project, so the port is still in a condition appropriate for utilisation and suitable for good's border crossing. Since a river port suitable for freight transport has also been built close to the Szeged railway station, this creates an opportunity for a combined transport of goods to develop in the Hungarian-Romanian-Serbian relationship, since goods loaded by rail in Timis County can be transhipped onto a river road by connecting a siding to Szeged. The lead partner of the project was also DKMT Euroregional Development Agency. (EN)

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 3 605 345.26

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 2 884 276.20

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 80.00%

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 2 884 276.20. Co-financing rate, 80.00%.

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Deliverables:

Service contract signed
Design theme and Technical specifications elaborated
Multifunctional equipment received
Design theme and Technical specification for design services, elaborated
Service Contract signed
Design documentation - FS/DAIW elaborated and received
Press Communicate elaborated and released
Press conference held and Press Communicate released
Joint actions held
Climate resilience test
Natura 2000 Impact Assessment
DNSH Assessment
Wildlife Survey
Laptop
Projector
Multifunctional office equipment (scanner, printer, photocopier)
Accessories for interpreting equipment
PC with design software
Press conference held and Press Communicate released
Press Communicate elaborated and released
Signed contract
Design theme and Technical specifications elaborated
Notebooks (2), TV (1) and multifunctional equipment (1) received
Signed contract
Signed contract
Signed contract
Signed contract
Design Theme and Technical specifications for design services, elaborated
Service Contract signed
Design documentation - FS/DAIW elaborated and received
12 meetings
First press release
Press conference and press release
Press communication
Water Framework Directive

Contribution to wider strategies and policies:

EUStrategyDanubeRegion The Strategy states in its Introduction: “In the [Danube] Region, there is a need to connect people, their ideas and needs. Transport interconnections must be modernised [...]. Development can be balanced with protection of the environment, within a sustainable development approach, in line with the environmental acquis communitaire as applicable. Work together is needed to minimise risks and disasters such as floods…”
Within the Strategy Four Pillars address the major issues. Each comprises Priority Areas, and distinct fields of action.
Here is a list of those that are are addressed: 1st pillar - Connecting the Danube Region
- To improve mobility and multimodality (b) road, rail and air links
- To promote culture and tourism, people to people contacts
3rd Pillar - Building Prosperity in the Danube Region
- To support the competitiveness of enterprises, including cluster development
4th Pillar - Strengthening the Danube Region
- To step up institutional capacity and cooperation
Preparing the investment in the building of a railway between Timisoara and Szeged is setting the basis for a relevant contribution to Danube Strategy implementation.
TerritorialAgenda2030 The Territorial Agenda 2030 underlines the importance of strategic spatial planning and calls for strengthening the territorial dimension of sector policies at all levels. It seeks to promote an inclusive and sustainable future for all places achieving Sustainable Development Goals in Europe.
Project’s main goal is to prepare a significant physical connectivity element between Csongrád-Csanád and Timis. All relevant stakeholders will participate to the dialogue, resulting in a high acceptance planning of the transport corridor, supporting trade connections and bringing new local development
opportunities.
The project will contribute to the integration beyond borders, pursuing easier living and working across national borders .
The project will take action to encourage communities, counties, regions, Romania and Hungary as Member States, to cooperate on responses to global societal challenges, improving working, living. business conditions.
The project will rely on the participation of decision makers in towns and communes, of people from different governance levels, as well as diverse policy sectors, project implementation.
The preparation of the project will create a good context for drafting new strategic regional development documents promoting co-development.
The project will concentrate on empowering local and regional communities to protect, rehabilitate, (re)utilize their (built) environments, landscapes, material and immaterial cultural assets and other unique values through EU instruments enhancing integrated territorial development.
The local economies, will be better integrated, creating new instances of circular economy.
Other Partnership Agreement Romania 2021-2027
The Policy Objective 3
A connected Europe can be achieved by developing sustainable TEN-T networks, resilient upon the climate change, intelligent, safety and intermodal, inclusive through a better access to TEN-T network, as well as enhancing the cross-border mobility. Transportation Programme as well as the Regional Programmes represents financial instruments for transport infrastructure interventions aimed to reduce the development disparities, to reduce the travel time and to enhance the regions competitiveness.
A sustainable and efficient transport is important to ensure the link between regions and countries, connecting markets and persons and contributing to the economic activity, to sustainable development and growth.
For Romania remains vital the investments in all modes of transport. Therefore, UE founds will continue to focus in optimizing the connectivity, on national and international level, and also in development of a sustainable transport.
In railway transport domain the interventions will focus on continuing the modernization of the primary railway network of Romania.
In order to ensure the economic, social and environmental benefits of the modernization of the railway network it is necessary that the transport services should be at the quality level required by users, completed also with efficiency measures regarding railway public transport.
Other Economic and Social Development Strategy of Timis County 2021-2027 shows that:
In the last 10 years, the motorization index in Timis County has increased considerably with 58,48%, overloading the existent road infrastructure. Therefore one of the identified Priority intervention area consist in developing the public and railway transport services, at county level, in order to sustain the demand of county commuting. In this respect, the Specific Objective 2.3 of the strategy ”County and metropolitan public transport optimized, attractive and digitalized” contribute to sustain the county commuting and to ensure the mobility demand, in an efficient and sustainable way, including through action D2.3.1 ”Modernization and expansion of the county railway network”.
Other Regional Strategy for Development 2021-2027 West Region
Pilar 3 ”Accessibility” for the West Region in 2030:
- connected to the central TEN-T network in all areas of the region, through secure transport networks modernized to European standards
- completed investment in the TEN-T rail network; and improved rail connectivity between areas urban (tram-train)
- Increased accessibility within the region with accessible, inclusive, safe and attractive transit system
for travelers
Specific objective: ”Improve inter-regional and cross-border connectivity and mobility by investing in TEN-T axes”
The rail network is a untapped source of benefits for the Region West, being capable of both improve the competitiveness of the core region, while at the same time helping to addressing territorial development challenges. All that is needed is better management of the existing network to ensuring safety, efficiency and quality necessary to attract passengers and make economically viable.
Other Csongrád-Csanád County territorial development strategy 2021-2027
Territorial objective: T.2. Border area
Specific objective S.2. Transport and logistics
Priority 3.3 Measures to strengthen the County's role as a bridge in the border area
- Exploiting the transport and logistics potentials of the county as a bridge region given its triple border situation, strengthening its role as a national community developer
- The rail network is an untapped source of benefits for Csongrád-Csanád County, being capable improving the competitiveness of the region, helping to addressing territorial development challenges.

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 081 - Participations in joint actions across borders, Measurement unit:
RCO 083 - Strategies and action plans jointly developed, Measurement unit:
RCO 087 - Organisations cooperating across borders, Measurement unit:

Programme Common Result Indicator:

RCR 084 - Organisations cooperating across borders after project completion, Measurement unit:
RCR 085 - Participations in joint actions across borders after project completion, Measurement unit:
RCR 079 - Joint strategies and action plans taken up by organisations, Measurement unit:

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSDR

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-A Romania-Hungary

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2025-02-18

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

16 / 16 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

52 / 52 (100%)

Notes on the data

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SZEGED-TIMISOARA DREAM RAILWAY

Description

Thematic information

Partners (3)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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