Could Hungary’s state railways collapse? More than a thousand lawsuits filed

Hungary’s state railway operator is facing growing legal pressure as more than a thousand locomotive drivers have filed labour lawsuits seeking compensation for allegedly unpaid rest periods. The total value of the claims could reach around HUF 4 billion (approximately EUR 10 million), according to the drivers’ union.

MÁV might be in serious trouble

The cases target MÁV-START, the passenger transport subsidiary of MÁV Group, which operates much of Hungary’s rail network. Drivers argue that the company failed to provide mandatory rest periods after shifts, and therefore owes them additional pay.

Hungarian courts have already issued more than 300 first-instance rulings and over 30 final judgments in favour of the drivers. However, the union claims that the railway company has yet to pay most of the compensation ordered by the courts.

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Dispute over daily and weekly rest periods

At the centre of the dispute is how rest time is calculated for locomotive drivers, whose working hours can begin at virtually any time of day. Shifts may start in the early morning, late evening, or even in the middle of the night, depending on railway traffic schedules.

Under Hungarian law and the railway sector’s collective agreement, drivers are entitled to at least 12 hours of rest at home after completing a shift. In addition, they must receive at least one uninterrupted weekly rest period of 42 hours, averaging 48 hours per week over a month.

The drivers’ union argues that the company has been counting part of the mandatory daily rest period as part of the weekly rest period. According to union leader Balázs Barsi, this means drivers can officially begin their weekly rest before they have even arrived home from their previous shift.