Hungary - General Information

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Country Name

Hungary (Magyarország)

National Railway System

Magyar Államvasutak Részvénytársaság (Hungarian State Railways) (MÁV Zrt.).

National Railway Operator

In July 2007 most of the passenger operations of MÁV were transferred to a subsidiary company MÁV-Start, although the narrow gauge services remained with the parent company.

Language

Hungarian (Magyar). The Hungarian language is not related to any Western European language (it is a distant relative of Finnish and Estonian, however) and many words will be unfamiliar to visitors, even those with some knowledge of other languages. Many Hungarians speak English or German.

Currency

Forint.

UIC codes

  • numeric: 55; alpha: MAV
  • numeric: 43; alpha: GySEV/ROeEE

Timetable

Journey Planner

elvira.mav-start.hu/

Actual Train Times

Downloadable Timetable

  • Domestic timetables:
    • The Belföldi utazás web page gives access to timetable PDFs: under the Menü tab on the left click Menetrendek and then click on the entry ending évi menetrend for the current timetable including amendments or expand Archívum to select historic timetables.
    • Unhelpfully this downloadable timetable does not decode the general numbered notes indicating which days/dates trains run (or do not run) on, this information is available in a separate PDF utmutato es kozlekedesi naptar a belfoldi menetrendhez. Click yyyy évi menetrend under the Menetrendek tab to obtain the list of PDFs.
  • International timetables: the Nemzetközi utazás web page has a map; click on any country that becomes highlighted and this leads to a complete PDF listing of current international timetables.

Note that all the above pages are only in Magyar (Hungarian), the English pages do not link to timetable PDFs.

Printed Timetable

Vasúti Menetrend or simply Menetrend, published annually which was still produced for 2015/16. This includes introductory material (including explanation of abbreviations) in English, French, German and Russian, and contains details of all MÁV, MÀV-START, GySEV/Raaberbahn, HÉV and Állami Erdei Vasutak (ÁEV) services, plus shipping services on Lake Balaton and some bus and tram information for Budapest. The timetable is available at ticket offices. A fold-out route map shows principal stations.

Additional Notes on reading the Timetable

Translation of some non-standard timetable symbols, comprising a white symbol in a black square, which appear in both the downloadable and printed timetables.:

  • O = kűlőn rendeletre - when advertised
  • 4 Monday to Thursday working days (not to be confused with a 4 in a circle, which denotes a Thursday)
  • 6 Saturdays and holidays (not to be confused with a 6 in a circle, which denotes a Saturday)
  • 25 Except Fridays
  • 27 Except Sundays

Translation of some timetable notes which may not be obvious:

  • -ig - until or to
  • -től - from
  • kőzlekedik - runs
  • naponta - daily
  • nem kőzlekedik - does not run
  • Az ev vegi... : refers to trains not running at Christmas and New Year.
  • Az iskolai... : refers to trains which run during school terms.
  • A nyari... : refers to dates of summer timetable

Engineering Information

See the MAV website. The page lists engineering information by timetable table number. A useful map giving an overview of engineering work is available at www.kapella.hu.

Bus Information

Timetables are available at Menetrendek

EU residents aged over 65 may travel free on urban and long-distance buses on providing proof of age.

Maps

Printed Maps

Web-based Maps

Ticketing

EU residents aged over 65 may travel free in second class on all domestic services, but need to have proof of age and to pay any supplements on IC/EC and fast (szebes or gyors) trains (and equivalent buses); these are distance related.

Ordinary Tickets

Many major stations have self service ticket machines offering an English language option, which may be a useful alternative to a ticket office. The machines allow one to set the departure station, for journeys starting elsewhere. Tickets can be purchased in advance. Tickets bought in advance on the website give a small discount on normal fares. Ones name and date of birth are required. If aged over 65, the English option asks if one is an EU citizen.

Passes

MÁV offers a network ticket (Országbérlet - Country Pass) for either the national network or an individual county, valid for one month from the start date. It is also valid on many local buses, including Volanbusz. See the Országbérlet web page. Note that this seems to be only in Magyar.
There was an annual pass for all lines and this is presumably still available.

The Országbérlet can be bought via the MÁV App. This is of course in Magyar and it is not immediately obvious how to obtain the version in English: go down to almost the last option Beállítások (Settings) and touch on that. Change Nyelv (Language), which has buttons for Magyar and English.
The ticket can apparently be purchased from main ticket offices and ticket machines. Note that it seems not to be available on the main MÁV ticket purchase website.
There is a problem for non-EU citizens over 65. Part of the Identification details required is the date of birth. However, this is verified. As Hungarians and other EU citizens over 65 travel free of charge, the system prevents one selecting a date of birth over 65 years in the past. The ticket must therefore be purchased from a ticket office.

Various Budapest Travelcards (network tickets, valid for one or more days) are available, valid on all lines (including MÁV) within the Budapest city boundary.

Infrastructure

Infrastructure Authority

MÁV Zrt and GYSEV Zrt have the role of Infrastructure Managers. Because they operate the railway network as integrated, non-independent companies, the Vasúti Pályakapacitáselosztó Korlátolt Felelısségő Társaság (Rail Capacity Allocation Office Limited Liability Company) (VPE) has been set up.

Network Statement

Network Statements can be downloaded from the VPE (Rail Capacity Allocation Office) website, using the drop-down menu or the Related Links. Usually, next year's version is included as well as the current version, also for previous years in the Archive section. Each year's Network Statement is combined into a downloadable ZIP file, containing multiple folders and files. Files of most interest to railway enthusiasts are in the Annexes folder, and there may be separate documents for the two Infrastructure Managers MÁV Zrt and GYSEV Zrt.

Gauge

Standard. There is one remaining MÁV narrow gauge (760 mm) system: Balatonfenyves - Somogyszentpál plus the 11 km Budapest Children's Railway, of the same gauge. ÁEV and other tourist lines are narrow gauge, most being 760 mm with a few 600 mm gauge. There were two 1520 mm (Russian) gauge lines linking Hungary with Ukraine: Záhony - Eperjeske-Rendező - Batyevo remains in use for freight to substantial Záhony transfer Depots but between Záhony - Chop the broad gauge tracks are disconnected although interlaced rails remain in use by the standard gauge passenger trains.

Electrification

The main line system is 25 kV 50 Hz. See below for Budapest HÉV local lines.

Tramways are 600 V dc.

Rule of the road

Generally right, although there is much reversible working. Budapest Keleti to Budapest Kelenföld to Budapest Déli and Rákos to Budapest Keleti have left hand running.

Distances

No source is known other than the timetables. The Network Statement does not appear to give comprehensive distance information.

Other Railways

Numbers preceding entries refer to timetable numbers.

GYSEV (Györ-Sopron-Ebenfurti Vasút)

Győr-Sopron-Ebenfurti Railways

Owned jointly by the Hungarian and Austrian governments with a small minority of other shareholders. Raaberbahn in German, as Raab is the German name for Györ.

  • 1 Hegyeshalom - Rajka
  • 8 Győr - Sopron - Ebenfurth (Austria)
  • 9 Fertőszentmiklós - Pamhagen (Austria)
  • 15 Sopron - Szombathely
  • 16 Hegyeshalom - Csorna - Porpác - Szombathely
  • 17 Szombathely - Zalaszentiván
  • 18 Szombathely - Kőszeg
  • 21 Szombathely - Körmend - Szentgotthárd
  • 22 Körmend - Zalalövő (closed to passenger services in 2009)

HÉV (Helyiérdekű Vasút)

MÁV-HÉV

Standard-gauge local lines round Budapest, electrified at 1000 V dc overhead. National rail operator MÁV took over operation of these Budapest suburban lines on November 24 2016. MÁV have set up a new subsidiary BHÉV which is responsible for operating all HÉV lines, with funding from central government and Budapest municipality to cover operational expenditure. MÁV has also taken over ownership of the infrastructure from BKV:

  • 250 [Budapest] Batthyány tér - Szentendre
  • 251 [Budapest] Boráros tér - Csepel
  • 252 [Budapest] Vágóhid - Ráckeve
  • 253 [Budapest] Örs vezér tér - Csömör/Gödöllő végállomás

ÁEV (State Forestry Railways)

These lines were all once used for forestry traffic; except where noted, only passenger services now operate. Mostly these are for the benefit of tourists although in a few cases some local traffic is carried. Services run daily or, in most cases, on certain days only during the summer. All are 760 mm gauge, except the one marked § which is 600 mm.

  • 305 Forest Railway Lenti - Csömödér - Kistolmács (also has extensive branches which only carry forestry traffic)
  • 307 Szenta - Kaszó
  • 308 Almamellék - Sasrét §
  • 310 Pörböly - Gemenc - Bárányfok (also carries forestry traffic)
  • 321 Felsőtárkány-Fütőház - Stimeczház
  • 323 Szilvásvárad: Szalajka-Fatalep - Szalajka-Fátyolvizesés
  • 324/5 Gyöngyös - Mátrafüred/Lajosháza
  • 330 Miskolc-Dorottya Utca - Papírgyár - Lillafüred - Garadna
  • 331 Miskolc - Papírgyár - Mahóca
  • 332 Pálháza - Rostalló

Tourist lines

Numbers preceding entries refer to timetable numbers.

  • 7 Gyermekvasút (Budapest Children's Railway, formerly a pioneer railway): Széchenyihegy - Hüvösvölgy (760 mm gauge)
  • 8a Nagycenk Steam Centre (GySEV): Fertöboz - Barátság - Kastély (760 mm gauge)
  • 311 Mesztegnyő - Felsőkak (760 mm gauge, formerly an ÁEV line)
  • 317 Kismaros - Királyrét (760 mm gauge, formerly an ÁEV line) [this line also offers rail cycling]
  • 318a Szob - Márianozstra (760 mm gauge, formerly an ÁEV line)
  • 318 Nagyirtás - Nagybőrzsőny (760 mm gauge)
  • 319 Kemence Muzeum - Feketevölgy (600 mm gauge)
  • 333 Debrecen-Fatelep - Hármashegyalja (760 mm gauge, formerly an ÁEV line)
  • Debrecen Vidam Park (760 mm gauge)
  • Pécs Kulturpark (Children's Railway): Állatkert (Zoo) - Dömörkapu (760 mm gauge)
  • Szentendre Open Air Museum (Skanzen Railway) (standard gauge)

Also see ÁEV lines listed in previous section.

The http://narrowgauge.hu/kisvasut.hu site provides useful information on narrow gauge lines, including some ÁEV lines.

Metro

Budapest

BKV is the Budapest Metro and tramway operator.

A metro track map is available at Popov Metro maps captioned in Cyrillic.

Trams/LRT-Systems

Budapest, Debrecen, Miskolc, Szeged.

The Budapest Rack Cogwheel Railway is fully integrated into the BKV system, operating as tramway line 60.

See also Hungary - Tram services over obscure routes

Recent and Future Changes (Latest First)

Following formal approval in January 2024, work has started to provide for a suburban service on the Budapest Southern Ring. A third track will be added between Kelenföld and the new bridge over the Danube and an additional double track onwards to Ferencváros. New stations will be built at Nádorkert, Közvágóhíd and Népliget.

The cross border service between Tiborszállás and Carei (Romania) ceased on 9 December 2023.

A five pairs daily cross border Szeged - Röszke - Horgoš - Subotica passenger service worked by both MAV and ŽS resumed on Tuesday 28 November 2023.

It is reported that the S76 Budapest suburban service between Rákos and Pilisvörösvár may be withdrawn.

It is reported that, although there will be no further closures in the short term, the following lines are "up for review":.

  • 4 Esztergom-Kertváros – Almásfüzitő
  • 5 Komárom - Székesfehérvár
  • 35 Siófok – Kaposvár
  • 43 Dunaújváros - Rétszilas
  • 44 Székesfehvár - Pusztaszabolcs
  • 61 Szentlőrinc - Sellye
  • 66 Villány - Mohács
  • 78 Galgamácsa - Balassagyarmat
  • 86 Jászapáti - Vámosgyörk
  • 87 Eger – Szilvásvárad
  • 94 Szendrő - Tornanádaska
  • 98 Szerencs - Abaújszántó
  • 102 Kisköre - Kisújszállás
  • 109 Debrecen - Tiszalök
  • 111 Vásárosnamény - Záhony
  • 113 Nyíregyháza – Nyírbátor
  • 113 Kocsord alsó – Fehérgyarmat – Zajta
  • 117 Görögszállás – Tiszalök
  • 121 Kétegyháza - Mezőhegyes
  • 125 Orosháza - Mezőhegyes
  • 127 Gyoma - Vésztő
  • 128 Szeghalom - Püspökladány
  • 142 Lajosmizse - Kecskemét
  • 146 Kiskunfélegyháza – Lakitelek
  • 147 Szentes – Orosháza

The new curve between Erd Also and Erd (on the line to Pusztaszabolcs) was scheduled for the first time with just three trains northbound SSuX from 28 August 2023. It had been completed but with demountable buffer stops at the southern end much earlier as it was expected to open around the timetable change in December 2022.

Apparently using an incident involving a BzMot at Hodáz as an excuse the government suspended services on the following lines from 1 August 2023, replacing them with buses:

  • 38 Nagyatád - Somogyszob
  • 47 Godisa - Komló
  • 78 Balassagyarmat - Ipolytarnóc
  • 89 Miskolc - Tiszaújváros
  • 98 Abaújszántó - Hidasnémeti
  • 103 Karcag - Tiszafüred
  • 114 Mátészalka - Csenger
  • 121 Mezőhegyes - Újszeged
  • 125 Mezőhegyes - Battonya
  • 146 Lakitelek - Kunszentmárton

77 Galgamácsa - Vácrátót re-opened on 11 December 2022

The Szeged - Hódmezővásárhely Tram-train commenced carrying passengers, initially with an hourly service, on 29 November 2021, increasing to 20 minute intervals in early 2022. It connects onto MAV tracks from the eastern tram terminus at Szeged Rokus until Hódmezővásárhelyi-Népker, then there is some 4 km of new single track tramway through the town centre of Hódmezővásárhely to terminate at the main MAV station. For more details see the Urban Transport Magazine article with a basic line diagram at the UrbanRailNet Site plus a MAV tram-train line diagram.

The 8km Imremajor - Csiszta gyórgyfürdő [Thermal Baths] branch of the MAV/BGV Narrow Gauge system from Balatonfenyefes reopened on 1 July 2021, having closed in 2002. The branch to Táska will not reopen as there is nothing of interest there.

Electric services between Szabadbattyán and Balatonfüred began on 19 June 2021, the start of the summer timetable. Approval has now been given for electrification of Balatonfüred - Tapolca - Keszthely/Ukk.

A new S76 Budapest suburban service started running between Rákos and Pilisvörösvár (on the line to Esztergom) on 25 October 2020. It uses connections at Rákos and Angyalföld that had almost certainly not had a passenger service before.

A new line between Százhalombatta and a point south of Ercsi, on the line to Pusztaszabolcs, bypassing Dunai Finomito and Ercsi, opened on an unknown date between March and June 2020.

Electric services between Szerencs and Sátoraljaújhely began on 2 July 2019 but note electrification does not include the cross border link to Slovakia. Work is under way on underway on route 101 Püspökladány - Biharkeresztes [unknown completion date].

Older Changes

For details of older changes see Hungary - Older General Information.

Special notes

See also