Here’s how MÁV would improve its services in Hungary in the future
MÁV has announced plans to reduce railway track charges in a bid to boost rail freight transport and address competitiveness challenges, following pressure from associations. The changes, set to take effect next season, aim to ease financial strain on rail operators and encourage increased use of the network.
MÁV’s ambitious plans
As Portfolio reports, MÁV is set to reduce railway track charges to boost rail freight transport and improve sector competitiveness, as announced by Krisztián Urvald, MÁV’s Director of Infrastructure Services, at the Hungarian Railways 2024 conference. This decision comes in response to long-standing pressure from freight operators and their associations. Under the proposal, companies will not be charged for track usage beyond a predetermined mileage threshold. Once this limit is reached, network access charges for basic services, such as path provision and track access, will be waived for the rest of the schedule.
Tackling an ongoing issue
MÁV’s decision to reduce track charges for rail freight aims to reverse the sector’s decline in recent years, exacerbated by rising access fees. Ancillary services, such as station usage and telecommunications access, will not be included in the discount scheme, but the changes are expected to take effect next season. This move comes after a significant 14.5% increase in track access charges in 2024, which alarmed freight operators and prompted Hungrail, the Hungarian Rail Association, to demand a review, warning that rail transport was becoming increasingly uncompetitive against road haulage.
Boosting traffic
The new measures are designed to encourage railway companies to increase traffic and make better use of the rail network. While the exact details of the reduction will be finalised in the coming months, MÁV expects the changes to significantly ease financial pressures on the 57 licensed contractor railways and 11 companies entitled to reserve capacity. Rail industry leaders are optimistic that this move will restore competitiveness against road transport. Krisztián Urvald noted that 80% of MÁV’s revenue comes from passenger transport, with public funding also rising significantly for cost reimbursements and infrastructure upgrades.
Restructuring the Hungarian Railways
Portfolio also writes that at the Hungarian Railways 2024 conference, Nándor Csepreghy, Deputy Minister of Construction and Transport, highlighted the renewal of Hungary’s railway network as both a challenge and an opportunity. He noted that railway development has gained national consensus, driven by environmental concerns and rising fuel prices. An EUR 10 billion investment is planned over the next decade to modernise outdated rail lines, upgrade rolling stock, and restructure MÁV.
However, with EU funds currently frozen, the government relies on national resources to bridge the financial gap. László Mosóczi, ministerial commissioner for rail development, also announced introducing a rail competitiveness package aimed at boosting the domestic rail vehicle industry.
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GOT to have MONEY to invest, which over the course of 15 years this Orban led Fidesz Government, the RAIL “landscape” of Hungary, through FAILINGS in PRIORITIZATION of investment, rail is on the list, of a PUBLIC Service and from a freight by rail containerization process, has been humongously – under INVESTED – through lack of Government FUNDING..
Hungary – has a tired aged rail overall system, throughout all areas of its operation.
Hungary – we know the DISGUISTING state of decades old Carriage & Rolling Stock that should have been in the time of this Orban led Fidesz Government – SCRAPPED.
Carriage & Rolling Stock is just one component of RAIL its LANDSCAPE – that is out of date in cases decades that needs up-grading and replacing.
OBB and DB, Swiss Rail and Italy – the French needs mass attention especially the TGV Services and Carriage Passenger Stock that is AGED, but the Governments of Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Italy – prioritize in there investment in the needs of people, into rail services passenger and freight.
Hungary, through the DUMBNESS of the Orban led Fidesz Government of Hungary – have dismally FAILED in investing into RAIL Services – carriage stock, motive power, track up-grades – right across its entire landscape.
This talk of a 10 year PLAN, the aged componentry at this present time, the want of another term of expression – Infrastructure of RAIL – in Hungary, besides the NEED of a Government having money to INVEST into Rail which FACTUALLY we know this Orban – Fidesz Government are near Insolvent, over the course of 10 years – the PUBLIC needs of Rail Transportation, the metro services and regional, these are GOING to “grow” in age and see our Rail Services remain in what they are at present resembling that of a 19th century Rail – metropolitan / metro & Regional – cross border Rail transportation system.
PRIORITIZATION – just another APPALLING example of this Orban led – Fidesz Government – there FAILING of investment into NEEDS – daily needs of the citizens of Hungary and the BENEFIT of our country in present time and into the FUTURE.