Better service for higher prices on trains? Here’s what you can eat on your way to Lake Balaton this summer

Trains with dining cars will operate again this summer on the southern shore of Lake Balaton between Budapest and Keszthely, MÁV announces. In the dining car of the Balaton InterCity trains, MÁV-START’s catering service provider, Utasellátó, welcomes passengers with chilled and warm drinks, snacks and a variety of main dishes and desserts.

Last summer, six out of ten dining cars were renovated both inside and out. Not only has passenger comfort improved, but new kitchen technology and modern equipment have also been installed in the vehicles, MÁV announced last year. The railway company offers chilled and hot drinks, snacks and a variety of main dishes and desserts in the dining car of the Balaton IC again this year, running on the Budapest – Székesfehérvár – Siófok – Fonyód – Keszthely route.

Source: MÁV

New kitchen technology and higher prices on the trains

According to Pénzcentrum, the selection of MÁV catering cars has been expanded, with more meat-free and vegan options, and presumably, certain products will be replaced or added to the selection based on demand. However, there are permanent products whose prices have increased since last year due to inflation. With a few exceptions, all food and drinks cost roughly 10-20 percent more. Mostly, the prices of soups and burgers have gone up.

Dining car on MÁV trains. Photo: FB/MÁV

For example, a breakfast consisting of fried eggs or scrambled eggs with two slices of bread will cost HUF 1,250 (EUR 3.25) in 2024, whereas last year it was HUF 1,100 (EUR 2.86). You will be able to buy a pair of sausages with two slices of bread for HUF 950 (EUR 2.47); in the summer of 2023, it was HUF 690 (EUR 1.80).

A hot dog will cost HUF 850 (EUR 2.21) in the dining cars of trains to Lake Balaton in 2024, 200 forints more than last year. An American hot dog this year will be HUF 1,090 (EUR 2.83); last year it was only HUF 890 (EUR 2.30). There are different pies to choose from as well. Pre-packaged sandwiches can be purchased for HUF 1,190 (EUR 3).

For your main course, you can choose chicken paprikash for HUF 3,890 (EUR 10.11), gyros plate for HUF 2,790 (EUR 7.25) and many more. Soups include fruit soup and goulash soup.

It is important to note that, according to MÁV, you can pay by credit card or SZÉP card in dining cars, but if you would like to pay by cash, they only accept forints on the trains towards Lake Balaton.

Seat reservation is obligatory on most of the trains to Lake Balaton

Photo: depositphotos.com

From 13 May 2024, trains will operate in the Lake Balaton area according to the pre-season timetable, which means that more trains will be available to the lake from Budapest than before. However, there are certain trains that you can only use by purchasing a seat ticket. On InterCity and express trains, it is mandatory to purchase a seat ticket, even if you have a country pass or a Hungary24 ticket. Those who do not have a seat ticket must pay an additional fee of HUF 1,000 (EUR 2.60) in addition to the price of the seat ticket.

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