Hungary upgrades railway lines and launches summer Balaton schedule

From June 20, Hungarian State Railways (MÁV) will implement a summer timetable for the Balaton region, aiming to provide faster, more comfortable travel during the peak holiday season. New speeds of up to 160 km/h are planned on the Budapest–Székesfehérvár corridor, with additional carriages—including loaned Austrian coaches—added to InterCity services. Bicycle tickets remain required, and extra bus resources are on standby for disruptions.

At the same time, Transport Minister Dávid Vitézy announced a multi‑billion‑forint track‑renewal program targeting the country’s most heavily used lines. About 40 % of the 5,900 km network currently operates under speed restrictions. Works on the Budapest–Pécs main line and the Szerencs–Nyíregyháza section involve complete rail and sleeper replacement, upgraded drainage, and modernised overhead systems, funded with over HUF 4 billion. The upgrades aim to reduce slow signals, cut delays and improve overall reliability of Hungary’s rail system.