Hungary - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services Temp

Introduction

This list is based on the timetable dated from 15 December 2024 to 13 December 2025. Standard abbreviations are explained here. The MÁV timetable contains a number of non-standard notes; for details see Hungary - General Information - Additional Notes on reading the Timetable.

Map references for each route entry are given in parentheses ( ). References prefixed "ERA-E" refer to the European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition) by M.G. Ball. References prefixed "ERA-R" refer to the European Railway Atlas (Regional Series - Hungary) by M.G. Ball.

Obscure services

Almásfüzitő avoiding line: Tata – Almásfüzitő felső

[1] (ERA-E 96B3-B4; ERA-R 207B3) HU25/1

Almásfüzitő station is on a loop separated from the main line by some sidings. The avoiding line is used by trains not calling at Almásfüzitő, although no wavy line is shown in the table indicating this.

Újpalota (Angyalföldi elágazás) – Angyalföld

[2] (ERA-E 99C4; ERA-R 214C2) HU25/2

Click on the thumbnail for a full size diagram.

This line, running south east - north west, links the line from Rákos with that to Esztergom. It is used by the S76 half hourly suburban service between Rákos and Pilisvörösvár.

Boba avoiding line: Kemenespálfa (Jánosháza elágazás) – Kerta (Kerta elágazás)

[20, 25] (ERA-E 96C2; ERA-R 206C1) HU25/3

This south <=> east curve avoiding Boba is used by direct IC trains between Budapest Deli and Zalaegerszeg via Veszprém.

Érd felső (Érd elágazás) – Tárnok

[30a] (ERA-E 99C4; ERA-R 214B1) HU25/4

This link between the Székesfehérvár and Sárbogárd lines provides an alternative to the Budapest - Székesfehérvár line via Erd alsó. Doubling of the latter route, completed in September 2013, has relieved the pathing pressures previously experienced, nevertheless this link is still used by an hourly local service between Kőbánya-Kispest and Székesfehérvár which calls at Érd felső. In the summer 2025 section of table 30a one eastbound train is booked via this route (non-stop trains with a | marking at Érd felső), although punctuality may affect the route taken by non-stop trains.

Érd - Érd alsó

[40a] (ERA-E 99C4; ERA-R 214B1) HU25/5

This newly constructed curve was completed by December 2022 but blocked out of use until a limited service commenced from 28 August 2023.

SSuX		O8099	Dombóvár - 05:49 Érd - Budapest-Déli
SSux		E4099	Sárbogárd - 06:49 Érd - Budapest-Déli
SSux		E4197	Pusztaszabolcs - 07:49 Érd - Budapest-Déli

Kőbánya felső - Rákos (via low level tracks)

[30, 30a, 80a] (ERA-E 99C4-C5; ERA-R 214A2) HU25/6

This route runs from the south side of Kőbánya felső station to the north side of Rákos station via the low level lines.

Click on the thumbnail for a full size diagram.

From travellers' reports it seems likely that this route is used by trains from Eger to Budapest Keleti and possibly other westbound trains from Hatvan as well. It is likely that the routing is at the signallers' discretion. The compilers would be grateful for confirmation of any other use by trains to or from Keleti.

Rákos – Rákos elágazás

[2] (ERA-E 99C4; ERA-R 214C2) HU25/7

Click on the thumbnail for a full size diagram.

This east - north curve is used by the S76 suburban service between Rákos and Pilisvörösvár, on the Esztergom line.

Budapest-Ferencváros - Kőbánya felső

[30, 30a, 70, 80a] (ERA-E 99C4; ERA-R 214A1) HU25/8

This east - west route enables trains to avoid Budapest Keleti.

Click on the thumbnail for a full size diagram.

It is used by the following summer dated train pairs to and from the Lake Balaton area.

D	Note 1	Ex15607	Miskolc-Tiszai - 08:43 Gödöllő - Fonyód
D	Note 1	Ex15606	Fonyód - 18:19 Budapest Kelenföld – Miskolc-Tiszai
D	Note 1	Ex18702	Szob - 08.25 Rákospalota-Újpest – Fonyód
D	Note 1	Ex18703	Fonyód - 18.57 Budapest Kelenföld – Szob

Note 1: The Miskolc services do not appear in tables 30 and 30a. Full timings at all calling points are available on the elvira.mav-start.hu journey planner.

Százhalombatta - Iváncsa (Ercsi elágazás)

[40, 40a] (ERA-E 96C4; ERA-R 214B1-207C1) HU25/9

This line bypasses Dunai Finomító and Ercsi stations. It is used by trains between Budapest and Pusztaszabolcs not calling at those stations.

Dombóvár avoiding line: Dombóvár alsó – Kaposszekcsős (Dombóvár elágazás)

[40, 41] (ERA-E 97B3; ERA-R 212B3) HU25/10

This west <=> south curve is used by trains between Kaposvár and Pécs which do not call at Dombóvár. The platforms at Dombóvár alsó are on the curve so trains which start/terminate/reverse here do not connect with the line towards Kaposvár.

	FO	IR19697	Győr - 11:48 Kaposvár - Pécs
D	SuO	IR19695	Győr - 17:48 Kaposvár - Pécs
D	Daily in summer	IR18803	Keszthely - 18:09 Kaposvár - Pécs
		IR9603	Győr - 19:42 Kaposvár - Pécs
D	SuO	IR19693	Győr - 21:41 Kaposvár - Pécs
		IR9602	Pécs – 07:13 Sásd – Győr
D	Daily in summer	IR18802	Pécs – 08:55 Sásd – Keszthely
	FO	IR19696	Pécs – 14:47 Szentlőrinc – Győr

Istvántelek (Rákospalota elágazás) – Újpalota (Angyalföldi elágazás)

[70, 30a] (ERA-E 99C4; ERA-R 214C2) HU25/11

Click on the thumbnail for a full size diagram.

This curve, running north east - south east, links the main line out of Budapest Nyugati with that out of Budapest Keleti. The the route is used by the following summer services.

D		EX18702	Szob - 08:25 Rákospalota-Újpest - Fonyód
D		EX18703	Fonyód – 18:57 Budapest Kelenfőld – Szob

Eger-Rendező: Eger-Rendező elágazás – Eger-Rendező – Eger

[87a] (ERA-E 98B2; ERA-R 208C3) HU25/12

The single line approaching Eger from the south splits to serve a substantial goods yard [Rendező] which potentially provides alternative bi-directional routes for arrivals and departures. The direct route is approximately 2.4km and the route via Eger-Rendező is a little over 2.5km. Click on the thumbnail for a full size diagram.

In the 24/25 timetable nearly all trains from Maklár to Eger are booked to take 10 minutes, with a few taking 11, so it is unlikely any of them are booked via Eger-Rendező. Departures at or around xx:08 from Eger to Maklár are booked 10 minutes, except the 07:03 which is booked 16 minutes and crosses an arrival into Eger due 07:10 (The equivalent train 07:02 from Eger was confirmed in May 2019 as running via Eger Rendező). Departures at xx:45 from Eger are booked 14 minutes to Maklár and cross services that depart Maklár at xx.42 and arrive into Eger at xx.52.
Observations would be welcomed by the compilers.

Miskolc-Tiszai avoiding line: Miskolc-Rendező – Miskolc-Gömöri

[92/80] (ERA-E 98B2; ERA-R 209A4) HU25/13

This curve links the main line from Budapest with the line northwards to Sajóecseg. It is used by a new service which commenced on 5 April 2022.

SuO

EX 15403

Kazincbarcika - 16:56 Miskolc-Gömöri - Budapest Keleti

Zalaegerszeg avoiding line: Zalaegerszeg-Ola (Zalaszentiván elágazás) – Zalaegerszeg-Ola (Andráshida elágazás)

[25] (ERA-E 97A1; ERA-R 211B5) HU25/14

The physical junction at Zalaegerszeg-Ola is west of the station, with one platform face for the line to Zalaegerszeg station and the other

for the avoiding line. It is therefore necessary to travel west of Zalaegerszeg-Ola for full coverage.

This curve was last used between 21 June and 31 August 2024 by the overnight Budapest to Rijeka/Koper service in this direction only. In summer 2020 and 2021 this curve was used by the RegioJet Praha - Rijeka service but in summer 2022 it was rerouted via Budapest and Gyékényes. In summer 2023 the train ran non-stop between Bratislava Nove Mesto and Celje implying a change back to running via Hegyeshalom, Csorna and Szombathely suggesting it resumed via Zalaszentivan (where it would reverse) and this curve. From 17 September 2023 the service was provided by bus and it appears as at January 2024 that this change is permanent.

Kiskunhalas avoiding line

[155] (ERA-E 97B5; ERA-R 213A3) HU25/15

It is believed this curve has been in use since early 2023 by a new Kiskunfélegyháza - Külsőhalas service as a consequence of the closure of the main line through Kiskunhalas.

The closed station at Külsőhalas has been re-opened and relocated to be just north of the curve junction with two platforms built on the three tracks, one on the southbound main line, the other on the curve but where it is parallel to the double track main line. As at May 2024, Elvira shows only separate services with different train numbers to/from the Baja line, or to/from the Kiskunfélegyháza line [plus to/from the rail replacement buses to/from Kiskunhalas], but the on-line PDF154/155 shows the majority as through trains with 10/15 minutes waiting time so the position on covering the short section beyond the platform to the physical southern junction of the curve is unclear.

Use of the curve is expected to continue until 5 April 2025.

Other sparse services

The following lines have few trains (relative to service levels generally in this country) - fewer than four trains each way on at least three days a week - or do not run each weekday.

H1	Gyékényes - Koprivnica (Croatia)
14	Szany-Rábaszentandrás — Csorna
25	Ὂriszentpéter - Hodos (Slovenia)
87	Eger — Szilvásvárad
98	Abaújszántó – Hidasnémeti (currently bus substituted)
103	Karcag — Tiszafüred (currently bus substituted)
114	Mátészalka — Csenger (currently bus substituted)
121	Újszeged — Mezőhegyes (currently bus substituted)
125	Mezőhegyes - Battonya (currently bus substituted)
128	Kötegyán - Salonta (Romania)
142	Hetényegyháza - Lajosmizse
146	Lakitelek – Kunszentmárton (currently bus substituted)
147	Orosháza - Szentes

Deletions since previous edition

HU24/2	Celldőmőlk avoiding line: Külsővat (Vinár elágazás) – Boba (Celldömölk-Rendezö)	No service since 2018-19
HU24/13	Cegléd avoiding line: Ceglédi szállások (Nyársapát elágazás) – Abony (Abony elágazás)	Service ceased on 14 June 2021.
HU24/14	Szolnok avoiding line: Abony (Paládics-puszta elágazás) – Abonyi út (Újszász elágazás)	Service ceased on 14 June 2021.
105	Nyírábrány - Valea lui Mihai (Romania)	Now has four trains a day.