MÁV seeks chief landscape architect for new green space strategy

The Hungarian State Railways (MÁV) is seeking a chief landscape architect to implement a new strategic approach to managing vegetation along railway tracks and stations. Moving away from traditional methods like chainsaw clearing, the initiative aims to treat green areas not merely as safety risks but as ecological assets.

This shift follows a controversial tree-cutting incident in Zugló, which led to a suspension of works and a comprehensive professional review of MÁV's current green space management practices. The goal is to harmonize railway safety with nature conservation, urban planning, and climate protection.

Minister Dávid Vitézy stated that the objective is not to relax safety requirements, but to evaluate whether decades-old regulations remain justified. For instance, current rules require a 7-meter buffer zone on both sides of electrified lines where no vegetation higher than four meters can exist. The review will examine whether these regulations sufficiently distinguish between different risk levels, such as trees on embankments versus those on flat terrain.