Breaking: InterCity derailed, paralysing train traffic at busy Budapest railway station – Photos

On Sunday evening, five carriages of the Claudiopolis InterCity, arriving from Cluj-Napoca in Romania, derailed near the tracks leading into Keleti railway station in Budapest. Fortunately, no one was injured in the accident, according to an official statement by MÁV, Hungary’s railway company.

Traffic halted at Keleti railway station

Due to the derailment, access to the tracks leading into Keleti railway station has been completely blocked, causing the station to halt all departures and arrivals for the remainder of Sunday evening. Authorities have indicated that the investigation and recovery efforts could take an extended period of time.

Reports from readers of Telex suggest that passengers on halted trains were left without information about the situation. Many began walking toward the station on foot. “After waiting for 10–15 minutes, passengers started to disembark and walk along the tracks. We weren’t given any updates. After about 20 minutes, we also got off and left the area through the nearest exit, which was a gate in the soundproof fence. There was no panic, just impatient people,” wrote one reader.

Photo source: imgbb

Keleti Railway Station, Hungary. Source: MÁV

Source: MTI

Source: MTI

Source: MTI

MÁV’s Facebook page provided further details on the disruptions to train services:

• Trains running on the Budapest–Hatvan–Miskolc line will only operate as far as Kőbánya felső and will return toward Hatvan from there.
• Trains on the Budapest–Újszász–Szolnok–Békéscsaba line will terminate at Rákos, where they will then head back toward Újszász.
• Trains on the Budapest–Pécs and Budapest–Győr–Hegyeshalom routes will turn around at Kelenföld station.

Additionally, train tickets will be valid for travel on alternative public transport options, including the M2 metro line between Keleti and Déli stations, the entire M4 metro line, tram 37A, and buses 161 and 168E.

UPDATE

Newly released video of train derailment at Budapest Keleti railway station – watch here

UPDATE 2

Keleti Station reopening date announced after train derailment incident

Read also:

• Budapest’s iconic Keleti Railway Station turns 140 – here are 8 fascinating facts
• International train delays expected in Hungary next week: Czech, Slovak trains affected