Huge changes at Budapest’s Keleti railway station as platform upgrade begins

Passengers travelling between Budapest and western Hungary will need to prepare for temporary changes at Keleti railway station, as major reconstruction work begins this week.

Big changes at Keleti railway station

From Monday, several long-distance services normally terminating at Keleti will instead arrive at and depart from Kelenföld station, according to information released by MÁV-Inform.

The disruption is linked to the construction of a new barrier-free high platform between tracks 12 and 13 at Keleti. The development forms part of wider railway upgrades connected to the Southern Railway Ring project and the Budapest–Belgrade railway line.

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Barrier-free platform under construction

The platform currently located between tracks 12 and 13 will be rebuilt as an accessible high platform, designed to meet European Union standards. Once completed, it will serve trains arriving from the directions of Délegyháza, Kelebia and Belgrade, following the launch of passenger services on the Budapest–Belgrade line.

MÁV noted that the current track closures make it possible to carry out the work with minimal disruption, as most long-distance trains from Transdanubia are already turning back at Kelenföld during this period. As a result, significantly fewer trains are using Keleti than usual.

The project includes the installation of around 500 square metres of new tactile paving on the platform and connecting walkways, improving accessibility for visually impaired passengers. In addition, maintenance work will be carried out on the platform roof’s support columns to prevent corrosion, while track regulation will also take place on adjacent lines and switches.

Demolition work is scheduled to continue until the end of January, with construction expected to be completed by the end of February. Regular passenger services on the Budapest–Belgrade line could begin shortly afterwards, supported by modern signalling systems and the ETCS train control system.

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Trains diverted to Kelenföld

Between 12 January and 28 February, most domestic long-distance trains from Transdanubia that usually serve Keleti will terminate at Kelenföld instead, although their timetables will otherwise remain unchanged. The Keleti station entrance near tracks 11 to 13 on Kerepesi Road will also be closed until the end of February.

Affected services include Mecsek InterCity trains, most Kaposvár InterCity services, Scarbantia, Savaria, Dráva and Mura InterCity trains, as well as several Győr, Szombathely and Hegyeshalom connections, with a few exceptions on specific departures.

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Preparing for future international services

Once the upgrade is complete, Keleti railway station will also be able to accommodate the new low-floor Soko (Falcon) multiple units planned for the Budapest–Belgrade line. These Chinese-built trains, intended for use by Serbian Railways, are designed without retractable steps, making platform height compatibility essential.

Passengers are advised to check the latest timetable information via the MÁV+ mobile application or the MAVPlusz.hu website before travelling.