Hungarian railway investments improve Balaton passenger numbers and punctuality

Recent infrastructure investments in Hungary have led to increased passenger numbers and improved punctuality for rail services serving Lake Balaton. According to reports from transport and investment minister Dávid Vitézy, over 1 billion forints were invested in modernizing approximately 27 kilometers of track on the northern and southern lines.

Key improvements included track bed maintenance, rail replacements, and upgrades to level crossings, contact networks, and platforms. On the southern line between Székesfehérvár and Lepsény, work included replacing 1,400 meters of rail and 40 concrete sleepers. On the northern shore, 2.8 kilometers of rail were replaced. These interventions have helped eliminate temporary speed restrictions, allowing speeds to return to 120 km/h in several areas.

During the peak season, punctuality on the northern line rose from 65% to 72%. Passenger traffic also saw a significant increase, with approximately 227,969 travelers using dedicated Balaton services, an increase of about 54,000 compared to the previous year. Ongoing maintenance continues to target specific sections, such as the stretch between Badacsonytomaj and Badacsonytördemic-Szigliget, to further stabilize service reliability.