Travelling to Lake Balaton during Pentecost becomes more accessible
Travelling by train is a great way to explore the Hungarian countryside at any time of the year, although railway lines are typically busier during national holidays than on an average weekend. For the Pentecost weekend, MÁV announces that they will expand the capacity of their trains, including InterCity trains on 19 and 20 May.
Greater capacity towards Lake Velence and Lake Balaton
As the Hungarian State Railway (MÁV) announced, they will expand the capacity of the trains to Székesfehérvár and Balatonszentgyörgy for the Pentecost weekend. Some of the Z30 trains between Déli railway station and Székesfehérvár will run with three-unit trains.
Between Kőbánya Kispest and Székesfehérvár, some of the trains will consist of large-capacity double-decker multiple units, hence more people can travel to the popular destinations, and more bicycles can be transported to Lake Velence. For those with bicycles, MÁV recommends travelling by the G30 train which departs from Déli station at 8:40 and 9:40, and travels with an expanded capacity of bicycle carriages. For more details, visit MÁV’s website.
Between 18 and 19 May, several FLIRT motor trains will run with three units on the shores of Lake Balaton, thus providing more capacity from Déli station to Balatonszentgyörgy as well.
On Sunday, 19 May, trains will run according to the holiday schedule, and the Sunday schedule on the 20th. On the 21st, the usual working day schedule applies.
Changes on the Budapest-Szombathely line
MÁV also announced changes on the Budapest-Szombathely and Budapest-Szombathely-Szentgotthárd lines until 22 May, as Savaria InterCity will operate with a smaller capacity. Instead of the InterCity carriages, there will be smaller, FLIRT carriages. Passengers are advised to book their tickets in advance for the time being.
The timetable for buses changes as well due to the three-day holiday. For more details, you can check their website HERE. HÉV trains will run according to the public holiday schedule, on certain lines less frequently. For more details, visit BKK’s website.
Travel according to the pre-season timetable from 13 May
From 13 May, MÁV announced that they would provide more frequent service to the lake shore and increase the capacity of bicycle transport, as we previously reported. This means more IC coaches and multiple units, providing more passenger space than in the early spring or winter months.
From 25 May, Balaton InterCity trains will have first-class carriages with dining cars to provide greater comfort for those who travel to the Hungarian Sea.
Changes on the Northern coast include Kék Hullám express trains, which will run every two hours between Budapest and Tapolca. These trains are the fastest way to reach Balatonalmádi, Balatonfüred, and the villages beyond. Vizipók trains will run every two hours from Budapest to Balatonfüred, the train stops at stations such as Balatonakarattya, Csittényhegy, and Balatonkenese. The Katica InterRégió train is for passengers who travel to smaller villages, as the train stops at every station beyond Székesfehérvár and Balatonfüred.
On the Southern coast, the DéliParti InterRegió train will run every two hours from Déli station to Fonyód. Between Szob and Fonyód, air-conditioned trains will operate under the name Jégmadár (‘kingfisher’) on weekends and public holidays.
Read also:
- Great news: It will be easier to reach Lake Balaton by train very soon
- Much-needed upgrade: modern Eurosprinter trains to arrive to Hungary – Read more here