Hungary’s rail fleet average age 42 years, highest in Europe

Transport and Investment Minister Vitézy Dávid said Hungary’s railway rolling stock has an average age of 42 years, the oldest figure across Europe. He cited a GKI analysis that shows neighbouring countries’ fleets are considerably younger – Romania 32 years, Poland 25, Slovakia 22 and the Czech Republic 20.

Vitézy criticized former minister Lázár János for halting train procurements, calling it a strategic mistake that left the fleet aging. He added that newly released EU funds now allow Hungary to spend €1.8 billion on new suburban (HÉV) coaches and a 35‑car motor‑train, which should cut the average age and improve service reliability.

The minister framed rail modernisation as a strategic, economic and environmental priority, warning that relying on outdated rolling stock harms the railway’s competitiveness against road transport.