Budapest horror story? Engine driver got in, shut the lighting, closed all doors and departed to an unknown destination

The engine driver got in the locomotive, locked all doors, shut the lighting and started to drag a carriage out even though some people were still inside. The Hungarians State Railways, MÁV, apologised for what happened.

According to rtl.hu, the regular passenger train between Budapest and Szolnok (line S60) did not begin its journey from the railway track people got used to on 17 April. However, a carriage remained on the original track, so some people sat in and waited to travel to their destinations. However, something else happened. The engine driver turned down the lighting, closed all the doors and started to drag the train on a side track without properly checking whether there were people inside or not.

The passengers did not know that their 9.50 PM train to Szolnok would depart from another track as nobody informed them. The situation became weird only when it turned completely dark, and nobody could open any doors. Finally, the train started to move but not in the direction they expected.

Passengers acknowledged their fault

They heard the loudspeaker through the wheel rasping, but by then, the doors were closed, so nobody could leave. Thus, the passengers started to phone their relatives and the MÁV in panic.

The Hungarian State Railways said the train departed the Keleti Railway Station from another track due to a technical issue. Therefore, the engine driver was ordered to free the track from the remaining carriage. Before beginning to leave the station, he shut the lighting and waited for the cleaners to leave. Only after 200 meters did he realise that three passengers remained on board, so he escorted them back to the station.

MÁV apologised on behalf of their engine driver that he did not notice the passengers on board. Meanwhile, the passengers concerned also acknowledged that they were careless.

Featured image: illustration

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