International railway services from Hungary affected by German strike

The planned walkout of German railway workers from Wednesday morning (24 January) until early Monday evening (29 January) will also affect the timetable of international trains from and through Hungary, the Hungarian Railway Company, MÁV, wrote on its Facebook page Mávinform.

Changes to railway timetables 24-29 January

Railjet xpress trains are said to be cancelled on the German section, with Munich services running only between Budapest and Salzburg, Mávinform reported in a Facebook post. Hungária EuroCity trains only run between Budapest and Prague, and Metropol EuroNight trains do not carry the Berlin group of coaches. The Salzburg coach group of the Kálmán Imre EuroNight train only runs between Budapest and Salzburg.

According to Deutsche Bahn (DB), the German railway company, significant disruptions and longer journey times can be expected on the German rail network during the strike, including on long-distance and regional services. Passengers are advised to postpone their journey if possible or to choose alternative travel options.

Those travelling to Germany should check the DB and MÁV information platforms and customer services, Mávinform added.

Read also:

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According to a previous statement by Mávinform, tickets and reservations already booked by 24 January for travel to, from or via Germany on the evening of 23 January and between 24 and 29 January can be returned free of charge and used before the booked date on 22 and 23 January or until 5 February on the route indicated on the ticket.

Tickets purchased online can be redeemed in the mobile app and by emailing eszrevetel@mav-start.hu. Validation of tickets for other times is handled by international ticket offices.

More information on ticket validity and transport arrangements: bahn.de/service/fahrplaene/aktuell, mavinform.hu/DB_arbeitsniederlegung

Strike in Germany

Photo: FB/MÁV

As reported by Index, German train conductors will go on a record six-day strike from Wednesday morning until early Monday evening after their union rejected the latest pay and working time offer from state railway company Deutsche Bahn (DB). Drivers at freight rail company DB Cargo already walked off on Tuesday evening.

The railway company held its longest strike so far in 2015: they were on strike for five days.

According to an expert from a German think tank, the strike could cause up to a billion euros in damage, given that the situation in the Red Sea has disrupted other transport routes.