Railway Operators in Hungary

MÁV - Magyar Államvasutak

Network length, gauge and electrification (2004):

In 2003 MÁV carried 157.4 million passengers, 3% less than in 2002. Freight traffic grew by 3%.
An independent traction company MÁV Trakció was set up to lease locomotives mainly to the operators MÁV Start (passenger trains) and MÁV Cargo (freight).
In November 2008 it was announced that MÁV Cargo would be sold to Rail Cargo Austria. The sale is now approved by the EU Commission, on 01-03-2010 the company was renamed into Rail Cargo Hungaria. This company still uses MÁV locomotives, apart from their own locomotives.

Website: http://www.mav.hu/

Stock Tables:
MÁV narrow gauge lines

The Balatonfenyves System

Network length, gauge and electrification (2001):

MÁV still operates this system, which is in very poor condition. The main line runs from Balatonfenyves to Csiszta, although trains only operate on the Balatonfenyves-Pálmajor branch (2006).

Széchenyi-Hegyi Gyermekvasút (Children's Railway Budapest)

Network length, gauge and electrification (2001):

MÁV operates the Children's Railway in Budapest. This runs from the terminus of the rack railway at Széchenyi-Hegy to Hüvösvölgy.

The service on the MÁV Kecskemét and Nyíregyháza narrow gauge systems was suspended at the end of 2009. All locomotives (mostly class Mk48) have been stored.
Stock Tables:
ÁEV narrow gauge lines

The Almamellék System (ÁEV 09)

Network length, gauge and electrification (2001):

This is the last "real" 600mm line left in Hungary. It runs from Almamellék to Sasrét and is operated by Mecseki Erdészet. The Lukafa branch was officially closed in 2011.

Csömödéri ÁEV (ÁEV 12, Csömödér and Lenti Systems)

Network length, gauge and electrification (2001):

The Lenti system consists of one line from Lenti to Szilvágy. The Csömödér system consists of one main line from Csömödér to Kistolmács with four long branch lines. These systems are now connected with a new line from Csömödér to the Lenti line.

The Felsötárkány System (ÁEV 04)

Network length, gauge and electrification (2001):

This system is managed by the same forestry company as the Szilvásvárad system. It runs from Stimeczház to Felsötárkány, but used to continue to Eger.

The Gemenc System (ÁEV 08)

Network length, gauge and electrification (2001):

This line runs from Pörböly (connection to MÁV) to Bárányfok, but most trains terminate at Gemenc-Dunapart.

The Hegyközy-Bodrogközi System (Pálháza, ÁEV 01)

Network length, gauge and electrification (2001):

The original main line of this system was Királyhelmec - Sárospatak - Sátoraljaújhely - Füzérkomlós, of which today only the branch line Pálháza - Rostall&oactue; is still in service.

The Kaszó System (ÁEV 11)

Network length, gauge and electrification (2001):

This line runs from Szenta (connection with MÁV) to Kaszó-Puszta.

Királyréti Állami Erdei Vasút (ÁEV 06)

Network length, gauge and electrification (2001):

This line once started as a 600mm gauge railways. It ran from Veröce (exchange with MÁV) to Cseresznyefa. At this moment passenger trains run from the Kismaros terminus close to the MÁV station to Kyrályrét. It is operated by the Ipoly Erdö forestry company.

Lillafüredi Állami Erdei Vasutak (ÁEV 02)

Network length, gauge and electrification (2001):

This system consists of a main line running from Miskolc Kilián Észak to Garadna, with a branch from Papírgyár to Mahóca. This branch once continued to Farkasgödör- Örvénykö.

Mátravasút (Gyöngyös, ÁEV 05)

Network length, gauge and electrification (2001):

This system consists of two branches, from Gyöngyös to Lajosháza and to Mátrafüred. An extension of 3.5km from Lajosháza to Szalajkaház was finished in September 2009 and will be opened for passenger trains in Spring 2010.

The Mesztegnyö System (SEFAG, ÁEV 10)

Network length, gauge and electrification (2001):

This line runs from Mesztegnyö to Felsökak and is operated by SEFAG. There are currently only two return trips on Tuesdays and Fridays. The Soponya branch was closed in 2011.

The Nagybörzsöny System (ÁEV 07)

Network length, gauge and electrification (2002):

The original 600mm line used to run from Ipolypásztó (now Pastovce in Slovakia) to Nagyirtas and from there as a 760mm line to Szob (connection with MÁV). The regauged part Nagybörzsöny-Nagyirtás was reopened in September 2002, the section Nagyirtás-Márianosztra-Szob needs severe reconstruction. The Szob-Márianosztra section was renewed and reopened in 2009.

Szilvásvárad Állami Erdei Vasút (ÁEV 03)

Network length, gauge and electrification (2001):

This well-used line runs from Szalajkavölgy-Lovaspálya to Szalajka-Fátyolvízesés. It used to continue to Bánkút, not far from the end of the LÁEV line. In 2004 the service was cut back, not serving Szilvásvárad Lovasp&aaucte;lya anymore (3.2km left in service).

The Zsuzsi System (Debrecen)

Network length, gauge and electrification (2001):

This line used to run from Debrecen to Nyirbéltek. Only the first section from Debrecen to Hármashegyalja is still open, but there are plans to reopen the entire line.
Note that there is also a 1100m long narrow gauge line in the Debrecen amusement park, with one C50 locomotive.

Stock Tables:
AWT - Advanced World Transport Hungary Kft.

Network length, gauge and electrification (2010):

After Eurocom went out of business, the assets were bought by the Advanced World Transport group from the Czech Republic (former OKD Doprava).

Website: http://www.awt.eu/

Stock Tables:
CER - Central European Railway ZRt.

Network length, gauge and electrification (2007):

CER is a new open-access freight operator that mainly performs shunting duties and short hauls within Hungary.

Website: http://www.cer.hu/

Stock Tables:
Floyd ZRt.

Network length, gauge and electrification (2007):

Floyd was one of the first open-access freight operators in Hungary. The headquarter is located in Budapest. Floyd cooperates (a.o.) with Softrans in Romania and also used the locomotives of this company (CFR class 41) on the Hungarian network.

Website: http://www.floyd.hu/

Stock Tables:
GySEV - Györ-Sopron-Ebenfurthi Vasút

Network length, gauge and electrification (2011):

This company operates both passenger and freight trains over some border crossings between Hungary and Austria: Györ - Sopron - Ebenfurth and Fertöszentmiklos - Neusiedl am See. In 2001 the GySEV took over the Sopron-Szombathely line (62km) from MÁV and aquired some second-hand stock for this line. This line was later electrified, as well as the Fertöszentmiklos - Neusiedl am See line (finished in 2004). At the end of 2006 they took over Szombathely-Szentgotthárd from MÁV, such that they can now provide an alternative for freight trains Wien-Graz over the Semmering line in Austria. In December 2011 214km of railways have been taken over from MÁV: Körmend-Zalalövö, Szombathely-Köszeg, Rajka-Szombathely and Szombathely-Zalaszentiván. Second-hand ÖBB diesel motor cars will be used on these lines.
In 2006 transported 6.4 million tonnes producing 714 million tonne-km, and 4.0 million passengers travelled with GySEV over in total 181 million passenger-km.

Website: http://www.gysev.hu/

Stock Tables:
HÉV (Budapest) - Helyi Érdekü Vasút

Network length, gauge and electrification (2006):

More information on the BHEV (provided by Janos Ero Jr, erojr@rmki.kfki.hu) can be found here.

Website: http://www.bkv.hu/

Stock Tables:
LCH - Logistics Center Hungaria

Network length, gauge and electrification (2011):

LCH is a subsidiary of DB Schenker from Germany. It started as a company performing shunting duties for the Audi plant at Györ, but has now taken over trip freights over the main line from Rail Cargo Hungaria. It uses second-hand German diesel locomotives and shunters.

Website: http://www.dbschenker.hu/

Stock Tables:
MMV - Magyar Magánvasút ZRt.

Network length, gauge and electrification (2007):

This new open-access freight train operator has started business in 2007 with second-hand modernised locomotives bought from CFR in Romania. 

Website: http://www.mmv.hu/

Stock Tables:
RCH - Rail Cargo Hungaria

Network length, gauge and electrification (2010):

Rail Cargo Hungaria is the former freight branch of MÁV (MÁV Cargo). In 2010 it was taken over by the Austrian railways. RCH uses locomotives from their Austrian parent, hired/leased/second-hand locomotives, and locomotives of the MÁV rolling stock division. In 2009 MÁV Cargo/Rail Cargo Hungaria transported 31.8 million tonnes of freight, 24% less than in 2008. In tonne-km the amount was 6.24 billion, 26% less than in 2008.

Website: http://www.railcargo.hu/

Stock Tables:
Last update: 17-12-2011