Everyone feels the effects of the Russian-Ukrainian war. In addition to migration and rising food prices, transportation in the Hungarian capital may also be affected. The entire M3 metro line could even be shut down due to the war. 

There are no parts for the subway

Népszava writes that in the last 30 days, no parts have arrived for the trains of metro line M3 in Budapest. Russian Metrowagonmash (MWM) manufactures the fittings. It is not only spare parts but also the specialists of the Russian company who did not come to Budapest.

The Russian invasion does not yet affect the maintenance and operation of the trains.

However, according to the Budapest Transport Company (BKV), the current supplies are sufficient for a maximum of a few months. It is not possible to know the exact time as it depends on the rate at which the parts need to be replaced. The problem may be that the Russian factory may not even produce parts now. After all, the same factory also produces war equipment, and the Russian government says it may be more important.

Storage is expensive

For this reason, it is not customary to stock up on various parts for many years to come. This is the case at BKV, too. The stocks are enough for a few months, but the supply is uncertain.

Poor-quality Russian vehicles

Experts have identified 18 serial faults in the poor-quality Russian vehicles in a 2020 independent report.

In addition, experts found that Russian vehicles are particularly in need of maintenance. In 2019, BKV sued MWM, but the Russian company has not even accepted the legal documents in the last two years.

The war also stalled the lawsuit.

The failure rate during the aforementioned study was 15 per cent, while 84 per cent of the vehicles are required for the normal operation of the system. Already at the time, the team of experts drew attention to the fact that the Russian manufacturer is in a monopoly position. Items made according to special Russian standards are manufactured only in Russia.

According to BKV, there is currently no need to fear public transport being shut down, writes portfolio.hu. However, domestic and other sources and delivery options are constantly being explored and sought. Gergely Karácsony, the Lord Mayor of Budapest, asked BKV to look into all alternative procurement options.

• Could the Budapest subway become a shelter?
• Hungarian agriculture on the brink of collapse due to fuel shortage?

Source: portfolio.hu, Népszava