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BUDAPEST METRO LINE 4 FEASIBILITY STUDY

Oktober 1996

FINANCIAL APPRAISAL

This chapter sets out a determination of cash flows based on the patronage forecasts and assessments of operating, capital and financing costs. Our analysis has been undertaken for four alternatives:

Kelenföld to Keleti main alignment built in one stage, referred to Base alternative

Budaörs to Keleti alignment, referred to extended alternative

Kelenföld to Kálvin alignment, referred to partial alignment

Two Stage construction of Base alternative

A computer spreadsheet model has been developed on both a nominal and a real (that is, ignoring the impact of inflation) basis in both ECUs and HuF for all these alternatives. In all, 16 spreadsheets have been calculated and are included within the Working Paper F02, attached to the report.

The rest of this chapter sets out the assumptions used and provides a summary of the results of the analysis.

Assumptions

In producing our analysis a key issue is defining and agreeing the assumptions and data to be used. This includes defining the alignment to be analysed, patronage and revenue forecasts, construction and operating costs, sources of funding and financing terms. We have undertaken discussions with the Hungarian Ministry of Finance, the Municipal Assembly of Budapest and its financial advisers and have advised the European Commission and the European Investment Bank of the assumptions we have used.

The financial model is based on a 30 year evaluation period from the opening of the metro. Calendar years are used throughout with the assumption that the line will open in the year 2005, with the exception of the phase construction where the section between Kálvin square and Keleti opens in 2010.

Input Assumptions

For the nominal spreadsheet assumptions have to be made with regard to the rate of inflation that will prevail over the construction and 30 year evaluation period. Assumptions for ECU and HuF inflation rates are set out below.

Table D 8- Assumptions for ECU and HuF inflation rates

Year
ECU Inflation rate

%

HuF Inflation rate

%

1996326.0
1997320.3
19982.816.5
19992.812.8
20012.59
2002 2.59
20032.59
20042.59
20052.59
2006 onwards2.58

Using the above inflation rate differentials between ECU and HuF, an exchange rate between the two currencies has been derived for the period covered by the analysis starting with a 1996 rate of 185.3 HuF to the ECU.

Financial Assumptions

Six main sources of finance have been assumed. Firstly, a loan covering 30 per cent of all capital costs from the European Investment Bank. The terms of the loan are assumed to be as follows:

Term 20 years

Capital repayment holiday 5 years

Interest rate 7% fixed

The second source of funding is from the municipality. This has been estimated at 3 bn HuF (16M ECU) in real terms for each year of construction. An equal contribution has been assumed to be provided from the Hungarian Government. The fourth source of funding is the European Commission's PHARE programme which is assumed to match the contribution provided locally, that is, by the Municipality and the national government. The balance of the capital costs of the scheme are assumed to be provided by a further loan. The terms of the loan are assumed to be the same as that for the EIB loan except the interest rate is 8.5% fixed.

The final funding source comes from BKV operating cost savings resulting from the opening of the new metro line. Unlike the other finance sources this income arises once the metro opens and can help to make a contribution towards principal and interest repayments.

Repayment of interest and principle

It is assumed that the loans are received at the start of the year and repayment is made at year end. Interest is therefore payable from the year in which the loan is received to the year it is finally repaid. For those spreadsheets that are in HuF the repayment of EIB and other loans is assumed to be in ECUs and therefore are calculated using the HuF:ECU exchange rate applicable in the year in question

No assumptions have been made regarding which authority will be responsible for the repayment of interest and capital.

Capital assumptions

The total construction and rolling stock costs for each alternative are set out in the table D-9 below. Given the relatively small number of train sets required it is assumed that all rolling stock is purchased in the year before the line opens even though not all the train sets will be needed at this time. The one exception is for the phased alternative when rolling stock will be purchased in two phases in line with when both sections of the line are opened.

Table D 9- Phasing alternative Capital costs


Alternative
Construction period

years
Construction costs

M ECU
Rolling stock costs

M ECU
Kelenföld- Keleti 4402112.5
Budaörs - Keleti 4457131.2
Kelenföld - Kálvin only 229456.2
Staging Kelenföld - Keleti 2+2294+124112.5

No assessment has been made of the costs of rolling stock refurbishment or the replacement/upgrading of train control/signalling systems.

Traffic Assumptions

From the traffic analysis, daily patronage figures have been estimated for each alternative. These are shown for the opening year (2005) and 2034 the end of the analysis period. To calculate annual usage the daily patronage figures are multiplied by 300. The present average fare of 13 HuF (in 1996 prices) is used in the analysis. It has been assumed that no real fare increase will apply although it is fairly common to increase ticket prices by the increase in real wages which are usually higher than increases in price levels.

Table D 10- Summary of the Traffic assumptions


Alternative
Daily patronage

Year 2005
Daily patronage

Year 2034
Kelenföld- Keleti413 877 474 133
Budaörs - Keleti423 508 486 801
Kelenföld - Kálvin only423 508 306 122
Staging Kelenföld - Keleti253 843 474 133



Operating costs are also taken from the traffic analysis.

Analysis and results

A total of sixteen spreadsheets have been calculated and this section briefly highlights some of the results.

The table below D-11 highlights the maximum nominal annual contribution required under each alternative to repay the principal and interest taking account operating surplus and BKV contribution. That is, for the base alternative the Municipality and or Government will need to pay in a single year up to 46M ECU to finance the debt on the metro extension. This level of debt funding is beyond the scope of the Municipality alone which can probably support 20M ECU in the years concerned.

Table D 11- Maximal nominal annual contribution


Alternative
Maximal annual contribution

M ECU
Kelenföld- Keleti46
Budaörs - Keleti56
Kelenföld - Kálvin only31
Staging Kelenföld - Keleti39


The total contribution that either the Municipality and or Government will need to make up to the date when the line becomes self-financing are shown in the table D-12 below.

Table D 12- Maximal nominal annual contribution


Alternative
Tot. contribut.

Nominal terms

M ECU
Tot. contribut.

Real terms

M ECU
Tot. contribut.

Nominal terms

bn HuF
Tot. contribut.

Real terms

bn HuF
Date by which

Metro line

becomes self financing
Total loans

1996

M ECU
Kelenföld- Keleti 428.4439.6259.2 81.4
2020
345
Budaörs - Keleti 575.0566.7308.9 104.9
2020
400
Kelenföld - Kálvin only 171.0198.685.6 36.7
2020
170
Staging Kelenföld - Keleti 693.6435.7341.3 71.3
2022
360