Attention: Train disruptions at Budapest’s Nyugati railway station, several trains modified, cancelled

On Thursday morning, train services at Budapest’s Nyugati railway station were severely disrupted due to a switch failure caused by a shunting train. The malfunction led to restrictions imposed by MÁV, the Hungarian railway company, affecting several suburban and intercity routes. Passengers experienced extended travel times and service reductions on key lines, with alternative public transport options temporarily accepting train tickets.

Service disruptions and temporary measures

The malfunction significantly impacted trains operating between Nyugati railway station and Kőbánya-Kispest, leading to prolonged journey times and altered routes. As a temporary solution, MÁV announced that train tickets would be valid on alternative Budapest public transport lines, including:

• Metro Line M3 between Nyugati Railway Station and Kőbánya-Kispest,
• Bus 151 between Kőbánya alsó and Kőbánya-Kispest,
• Tram 1.

Affected train services

Several services faced cancellations or modifications:

• The 8:20 Tokaj InterCity (IC 652) from Nyugati to Keleti via Debrecen and Miskolc operated only from Nyíregyháza.
• The 8:25 Cívis InterRégió (IR 6072) to Debrecen was cancelled. Affected passengers could travel via the M3 metro or take the 9:00 Z50 service to Cegléd, then transfer to the 9:41 Cívis InterRégió (IR 6082) from Kőbánya-Kispest to Debrecen.
• The suburban S21 (Lajosmizse) and S50 (Monor) lines operated only to Kőbánya-Kispest, where they turned back toward their respective destinations.
• The 9:15 Lajosmizse-bound train (2942) and the 10:40 return service (2915) were cancelled, with replacement buses running between Kőbánya-Kispest and Lajosmizse.
• The 9:25 Cívis InterRégió (IR 6082) to Debrecen operated only from Kőbánya-Kispest.
• The 8:50 Napfény InterCity (IC 722) to Szeged was cancelled.

Restoration of services

By late morning, MÁV announced that the switch failure at Nyugati railway station had been repaired, and normal service was expected to resume gradually on the Cegléd and Lajosmizse lines. However, train tickets remained valid on affected BKK routes until 10:30 AM to accommodate passengers still experiencing disruptions. While services have been restored, passengers are advised to check for real-time updates and allow extra travel time when using affected routes.

Read also:

• Public outrage: Will the government take a small part from Budapest Zoo?
• BREAKING – Budapest airport shuttle to be much cheaper and will touch a new downtown station