Project history

Project history

The Municipality of Debrecen has considered the idea of the construction of tramline no. 2 for nearly two decades. The first study plan on the potential route was prepared in 2000. In 2004, on the basis of the decision of the General Assembly, the city successfully applied for funds from the Regional Operative Programme in the framework of the 1st National Development Plan for the planning activities related to the project. As a result, in 2006 the first specific plans were prepared including the finalised route. The permit plans were completed by the end of that year, and the building permits were obtained. A public opinion poll was carried out also in 2006, which surveyed the acceptance of the project by local citizens, as well as their expected travelling habits. Two-thirds of the respondents considered the project as important, and 93% agreed with the planned route. In the course of further preparations, using the funds provided by the National Development Agency, the Municipality of Debrecen signed the contract for the preparation of the implementation drawings on 28 December 2007. The General Assembly brought the decision on 31 January 2008 that the Municipality of Debrecen should form a consortium with DKV Zrt., the local transportation company, and that they should jointly apply for funding from the EU’s Cohesion Fund to support the construction of the new tramline as a major project. The application was finally submitted on 29 February 2008, based on the endorsement list of the New Hungary Development Program and its action plan for 2007-2008. On 28 May 2008, the plans for the new tramline were presented to Brussels decision-makers in Debrecen. The Hungarian Government approved the state support to be awarded to the project on 18 June 2008, and forwarded Debrecen’s application to Brussels on 30 June 2008. The support contract for the program by the national government was signed on 11 September 2008, and then on 19 December 2008, the European Commission approved the construction of tramline no. 2 for support from EU funding, as the first in the line of Hungarian major projects. Thereafter, the Debrecen Municipality invited a public procurement tender for 18 tramcars on 5 January 2009. The actual construction work of the tramway is expected to commence in the summer of 2009. The projected date for the completion of the construction is 31 December 2010, and financial accounts for the European Union are due by 30 June 2011.