Hungary now has the oldest railway rolling stock in Europe, according to a recent study cited by Transport and Investment Minister Dávid Vitézy, who says decades of underinvestment have left the country’s train network lagging far behind its regional neighbours.

In a Facebook post published on Saturday, Vitézy described the findings as “scandalous” and argued that years of cancelled railway procurements and delayed investments have created a problem that will take many years to reverse.

Hungary tops Europe’s unwanted ranking

Referring to research by the Hungarian economic research institute GKI, Vitézy said the average age of railway vehicles in Hungary is now 42 years: the highest in Europe. He contrasted the figure with neighbouring countries:

  • Romania: 32 years
  • Poland: 25 years
  • Slovakia: 22 years
  • Czechia: 20 years

According to the minister, the gap highlights not just ageing trains but decades of missed strategic investment.

“Railway development requires long-term planning and decisions prepared years in advance,” he wrote, arguing that other European countries recognised long ago that rail transport is a strategic national priority.

Vitézy blames predecessor Lázár János

Vitézy directly criticised his predecessor, former transport minister János Lázár, accusing him of severely damaging Hungary’s railway development by suspending or cancelling procurement projects and infrastructure investments, including during his final days in office.

The minister argued that the consequences extend far beyond passenger comfort. Operating increasingly outdated trains, he said, reduces the competitiveness of rail transport compared with road travel, despite rail being the more sustainable option economically and environmentally. He added that the issue has broader implications for regional development, economic competitiveness and climate policy.

Government plans major fleet renewal

Vitézy said the current government intends to modernise Hungary’s railway system using European Union funding that has recently become available again. According to the minister, the government plans to spend EUR 1.8 billion on new rolling stock, including:

  • new suburban trains for Budapest’s HÉV network;
  • 35 double-decker electric multiple units.

He said these purchases alone will significantly reduce the average age of Hungary’s railway fleet.

Goal is a long-term transformation

Vitézy stressed that replacing ageing trains is only part of the government’s wider strategy. The long-term objective, he said, is to ensure Hungary keeps pace with the railway renaissance taking place across Europe by creating a modern, reliable and competitive rail system after what he described as decades of strategic neglect.

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