Budapest is the centre of the Hungarian railway network, with three large stations. From Budapest a 7,607 km network radiates through the country with various connections the larger towns.
Taking an Intercity (IC) train is the fastest way to travel from Budapest to the following cities: Bekescsaba, Debrecen, Dombovar, Gyor, Gyula, Hajduszoboszlo, Kaposvar, Kecskemet, Miskolc, Nyiregyhaza, Pecs, Sopron, Szeged, Szolnok and Szombathely.
Faster trains are the Intercity (IC) trains or the Express trains (gyorsvonat). They also have comfortable first class (elso osztály) sections. In almost all cases the IC trains have a restaurant car. In all the other train lines there are smoking and non-smoking cars. Local trains are called személyvonat, they are relatively slow. Often they only have a second class (másod osztály) compartment.
In all Hungarian train stations a yellow board indicates departures (indul) and a white board arrivals (érkezik). Express trains are indicated in red, local trains in black.
Bikes are allowed on most trains upon purchase of a special bike ticket.
Private railway companies
A InterRail pass valid in Hungary is also valid on the private railway lines operated by GYSEV (known as ROeEE in Austria).
GYSEV operate a number of train routes, including:
- Sopron – Ebenfurth (Austria)
- Fertöszentmiklós – Neusiedl/See (Austria)
For more information check the GYSEV website (only in German and Hungarian)
Budapest
Budapest has three main train stations:
- Keleti (Eastern) on Baross ter (red metro line): most international express trains, domestic trains to and from the north and north-east
- Nyugati (Western) on Nyugati ter (blue metro line): trains for the Great Plain and the Danube Bend
- Deli (Southern) at Krisztina korut: trains bound for Transdanubia and Lake Balaton
International connections
There are direct connections to Hungary from and to all immediate neighbors: Austria, Croatia, Romania, Slovakia. Also to further countries like: Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Italy, Poland, Switzerland and even Turkey.
Train types
- Railjet (RJ): international high speed trains, reservations possible but not required
- EuroCity (EC): reservations are possible but not required for domestic journeys
- EuroNight (EC): night trains, reservations are required
- InterCity (IC): reservations are required for domestic travel
- InterPici (IP): trains that complement intercity services, reservations are required
- Express (ExP): reservations are required;
- Fast and Passenger trains (regional or interregional), reservations not required
For more information about seat reservations, see the pages:
