Rail transport towards Lake Balaton collapses on first day of long weekend
Thousands of passengers heading to Lake Balaton and Lake Velence from Budapest faced major disruptions on the first day of the Pentecost long weekend, as Hungary’s rail and road systems struggled to handle the increased traffic.
Balaton main lines collapse
According to MÁV (Hungarian State Railways), trains on the main lines to Balaton were delayed by 30 to 90 minutes due to a series of technical problems. On the roads, heavy traffic caused significant congestion on the M7 motorway between Törökbálint and Martonvásár, Telex reported. The rail disruptions were so severe that several trains, including the “Vízipók” fast train and the “Katica” InterRegional, were only partially running, skipping Budapest’s Déli Station.
Immediate investigation launched
The main cause of the delays was a recurring technical fault involving the level crossing systems between Érd and Tárnok. These malfunctions forced trains to reduce speed on the already congested line. MÁV CEO Zsolt Hegyi announced an immediate investigation, calling the situation “unacceptable.”
He emphasised that the affected rail section had been fully renovated just ten years ago with Siemens equipment, at a cost of more than HUF 15 billion (EUR 37.1 million). Hegyi publicly apologised to passengers and promised to work with the original contractor to identify and resolve the issue quickly.
Meanwhile, Budapest city assembly member Dávid Vitézy, a longtime transport expert, strongly criticised the government’s handling of the situation. He argued that Transport Minister János Lázár’s much-publicised 10-point rail reform plan had failed on the first major weekend of the summer season. Vitézy posted a photo of the crowded Kelenföld station and urged the minister to face the public there.
Vitézy also pointed out that passengers holding nationwide or county rail passes were not entitled to automatic compensation, while those with regular tickets were already receiving partial refunds through MÁV’s new delay insurance scheme, introduced on 1 June. So far, nearly 9,600 passengers have been reimbursed without having to file a claim, as the system is mostly automated.
Criticism was further fueled by the lack of functioning air conditioning on many InterCity trains and the absence of promised replacement buses. Vitézy called the government’s summer transport promises unrealistic and accused them of prioritising highway expansion over railway development. He noted that the biggest rail investment this year was reportedly “cleaning a few toilets,” while the Czech Republic is spending 50 times more on railway improvements.
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