Major overhaul in Hungary’s railway travel: Here are the domestic and international changes
Hungary’s national rail operator, Hungarian State Railways (MÁV), will introduce a widely expanded and partially redesigned timetable from 14 December, bringing significant improvements for commuters, regional passengers, and international travellers alike.
Big changes in Hungary’s railway transport
The company says the changes respond to long-standing requests from passengers and municipalities, while also supporting the government’s expectation that rail services should expand rather than shrink, writes Pénzcentrum.
According to MÁV, most travellers will not need to learn entirely new departure times, as the core structure of recent years remains in place. However, several key lines will see upgraded services, additional trains, or more frequent connections. The operator recommends that all passengers check the updated schedules on official MÁV platforms before travelling.
Domestic developments: Faster routes and more frequent services
One of the most notable projects is the reconstruction of the Debrecen–Füzesabony line, where travel times are expected to decrease by roughly 20 minutes from spring thanks to track refurbishment and maintenance works. Until then, replacement buses will continue to operate between Látókép and Balmazújváros.
A major regional upgrade will be introduced on the Hatvan–Somoskőújfalu line, where trains will run every hour on weekdays without interruption, while seven new weekend travel options will be added to improve access to Salgótarján.
Following track upgrades on the Budapest–Szolnok–Békéscsaba line, domestic InterCity trains will once again run through to Lőkösháza, restoring full service on Hungary’s key eastbound corridor.
Late-night travel will also become easier: operating hours will be extended between Budapest and Dunaújváros, the capital and Gödöllő, as well as on the Győr–Hegyeshalom line. This expansion aims to provide safer and more convenient journeys after evening events.
Additional improvements in Hungary include:
- A daily mid-morning Gemenc InterRégió train between Székesfehérvár and Baja, ensuring a consistent two-hourly service even on Sundays.
- Continuation of Helikon InterRégió services on the Győr–Celldömölk–Tapolca–Keszthely route throughout the year.
- Daily operation of the first and last Göcsej InterCity on the Budapest–Zalaegerszeg–Szombathely route.
- Elimination of long midday service gaps on several regional lines serving tourism hotspots or meeting local government requests.
- Adjustments to Kiskun InterRégió services, requiring transfers at Kiskunhalas.
International rail travel expands further
Central Europe’s cross-border services are set for a considerable boost. The Czech railways will operate five pairs of EuroCity trains as railjets every day on the Budapest–Bratislava–Prague corridor via Vác and Szob.
Eastern Hungary will also gain stronger links, with several services on the Debrecen–Nyírábrány line extended to Érmihályfalva in Romania.
A new EuroCity pair named Semmelweis Ignác and Bartók Béla will begin running between Budapest and Vienna, matching the current running times of the Dacia EuroCity.
Meanwhile, the new Dacia-Ung EuroCity will launch between Vienna and Bucharest, bypassing Budapest Keleti station and instead passing through Kőbánya-Kispest and Szolnok. This train will also include through-carriages to Kyiv, providing a new direct connection.
Complementing this upgrade, a new Ung fast train will be introduced on the Vienna–Budapest–Szolnok–Kyiv line. As a consequence, the Hortobágy EuroCity will be shortened and will now operate only between Vienna, Budapest, and Nyíregyháza.
Railjet services between Budapest and Vienna will continue to run via Hegyeshalom with no changes to the border crossing route.
Christmas travel bookings now open
MÁV has also announced that international tickets for the Christmas season—particularly popular due to Advent markets in neighbouring capitals—are already available for purchase.
Travellers can buy international tickets up to 60 days in advance, with the best prices offered through the MÁV and MÁV+ mobile apps or the official ticketing website. Discounted START Europa fares remain available, with the lowest prices offered to those who book earliest.