Budapest-Vienna railway connection to be restored with many changes

Trains will run on the entire railway line from 10 December again between Budapest and the Austrian capital. Thanks to the reconstruction project, the trains will be able to commute with 140 km/h, Zsolt Hegyi, MÁV-Start’s deputy CEO, said.

According to InfoRádió, the main railway line between Győr and Budapest will be completed this Sunday. The work lasted three months and it caused multiple difficulties for the passengers. Fewer international trains could commute to German and Austrian cities from the Hungarian capital and Austria separated the Hungarian railway system from the European due to the many delays.

However, by Sunday, the entire line between Szárliget and Biatorbágy, 30 kilometres, will be renewed. That means 60 kilometres of railway tracks. The subcontractors replaced more than 100 thousand sleepers and 100 thousand tonnes of basement.

Higher speed between Budapest and Vienna

From Sunday, you will not have to travel on replacement buses, trains will commute on the entire line, the deputy CEO highlighted. From 10 December, the original timetable will enter into effect again. Mr Hegyi added that they would increase railway speed gradually from 100 km/h to 140 km/h. Therefore, until January, passengers should expect one-minute delays.

Furthermore, international trains will not end their journey in Vienna but will run to Munich, Zürich and other destinations like before. He said that ten Railjet trains commute each day between Budapest and Vienna, five-five on the two directions. From Sunday, all international trains will run on the entire track.

Currently, the problem is not in Hungary concerning keeping the schedule on the railway line but in Germany and Austria. That is because of the heavy snowing that hit our Western neighbour and Bavaria. Mr Hegyi said that the railway reconstruction would allow safe and swift travels between the two capitals for decades. The Budapest-Vienna line is Hungary’s busiest.

Dining carriages on the railway line

According to turizmus.com, apart from the higher speed, passengers will experience another positive change on the popular railway line. Dining cars will commute again on the line. The Hungarian State Railway suspended that service after the coronavirus pandemic broke out in spring 2020. Thanks to the development, passengers will be able to dine on all daytime trains commuting to Vienna from Budapest. That concerns Hortobágy (Záhony–Budapest–Vienna), Liszt Ferenc, Csárdás, Semmelweis, and Lehár (Budapest-Vienna) EuroCity trains. Furthermore, a dining car will be attached to the Tisza-Szamos EuroCity (Vienna–Budapest–Nagybánya/Baia Mare) and fast train Dacia (Budapest-Vienna).

That means you will be able to eat and drink on all international trains commuting from Budapest to the Austrian capital from Monday.

Trains will offer traditional Hungarian dishes like goulash soup, chicken paprikash or START Burger. Of course, vegetarians will also be able to choose from the menu.

Trains will start in every two hours to Vienna from Budapest. There will also be bike transport carriages and disabled people will also be able to use this opportunity. In Vienna, you may continue your journey towards Linz, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Graz or Klagenfurt. Furthermore, you may travel to Mariazell, Bad Ischl, Hallstatt, Zell am See and Bad Gastein as well.