Attention travellers! Major renovations underway at Budapest’s Keleti railway station – photos

Budapest’s iconic Keleti railway station, celebrating its 140th anniversary this year, is undergoing essential renovations as part of the accelerated “Keleti Programme”, launched in response to recent disruptions. Following two derailments related to track switches in the second half of the year, MÁV (Hungarian State Railways) CEO Zsolt Hegyi announced a comprehensive plan to modernise and enhance the safety and reliability of Hungary’s busiest station.

Though unrelated in the cause, the two incidents impacted passenger confidence and disrupted train schedules, prompting Hegyi to prioritise an already-planned refurbishment programme for the station. (The last incident: A train derailed at Keleti station, causing several trains to be delayed.) The Keleti Programme, now underway, focuses initially on replacing nearly 200 wooden railway ties in the station’s switch zone. These upgrades are essential to ensure passenger safety and punctuality in train operations.

The project’s current phase, which began today, will run through the end of the month. To minimise disruption to passenger services, the construction work will occur exclusively at night, from 9 PM to 5 AM. However, travellers should be aware that some trains may arrive on alternate tracks due to the ongoing renovations. MÁV kindly asks for passengers’ understanding and patience during this time.

November marks the first yet crucial step of the Keleti Programme. By the end of the year, MÁV plans to implement significant interventions across 35 locations within Keleti’s switch and crossing zones. The major portion of the project is set for 2024, promising extensive upgrades to the station’s infrastructure and paving the way for smoother, safer rail operations in the years ahead.

As Budapest’s railway hub transforms, MÁV remains committed to delivering a more reliable and passenger-friendly experience for everyone travelling through the Keleti railway station.

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