Would you like to be at your destination in the quickest and most comfortable way possible? Then choose the speedy, modern and clean EuroCity and InterCity trains. If travelling further than Budapest, it may be a good idea to purchase an international ticket just to the Hungarian capital and then get your cheaper onward ticket from there. Or even change trains at the border and continue on a domestic ticket. At rush hours in Budapest, reckon on being caught in a queue at the ticket counter and remember to include time in case you need to cross the city to make your connection at another station. Next to a domestic ticket EC/IC trains require a supplement which may provide a reserved seat, simply mention the name of the IC train you intend to board. If possible check the available trains online at home, to make sure you know the transport titles required and thus avoid fines on the train. You may book your IC supplement by phone, in Hungary at 06-40-49 49 49 or from abroad at +36-1-371 94 49. You also must purchase a supplement if you are entitled to free rail transport (e.g. EU citizens above 65).

Do you fancy a romantic train trip on a tight budget? Then plan your journey on the side branches of Hungarian railways using the slower trains. On standard and narrow gauge lines you can explore hills and valleys, or take a stretch across the endless puszta lands of grassy plains. And remember, the bus will bring you to all those nooks that the train does not reach.

Despite significant investment the average age of the rolling stock is well over the Western European average. It is also high time for many of the stations to be renovated, but keep your eyes open for the splendid sight of those dating from the time of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy that already have been refurbished to an exemplary standard. Many of the lines are well over 100 years old and are threatened as a result of current transport policy and decades of neglect. In spite of this Hungarian Railways boast an excellent safety record.

As the old carriages are not air conditioned in case of hot weather it may be worth getting up early. In the cold season the heating does not always work properly - much of the time those older carriages are too hot and only opening the window or at least the compartement door will help. At night you may have a hard time to track travel progress because of poorly lit and signposted stations, or because of tarnished windows. In such a case share your destination in time with the conductor or a local fellow traveller for them to advert you when to get off.

The entire train network is organised around the city of Budapest and generally you will reach your destination quickly from the capital, or find that you best travel through Budapest to arrive in your place of choice. In 1921 due to the border modification and loss of two-thirds of their territory, the outer rail ring linking large peripheral cities was also cut off. It still can be more difficult and slower to travel between towns and cities in the countryside. Unfortunately, few of these cut off lines to cities and towns outside the border have been reinstated as yet. Thus there are hardly any places where it would make sense to cross over to Slovakia, Romania or Serbia in order to reach destinations near the border once linked by railway.

Railway map of Hungary (PDF with Hungarian and German descriptions on back side)
Railway map of Hungary, without stops (hubs only), more track data, also maps of neighbouring countries!

Some of the most characteristic train sets you might encounter:
Bzmot motorcars (Tatra, Studenka, Czechoslovakia - presently the most common train set in rural Hungary, called "Piroska" just as MDmot trains)
Siemens DESIRO (Budapest-Esztergom)
Talent railcar from Bombardier
FLIRT railcar (Stadler, Switzerland) in Győr and here in Sárbogárd with veteran Btx016
BDVmot electric trainset (made in Hungary, to be seen around Budapest mainly)
Intercity Claudius with Siemens TAURUS engine (engine nickname: Teknős/Turtle; waggons from GySEV and MÁV)
M41 "Csörgő/Rattle" - Hungary's most common Diesel engine - here a few pics with passenger trains in Northeastern Hungary
MDmot "piroska" train ("little red riding hood" - a rather common sight in much of Southern and Eastern Hungary)
"Uzsgyi" or "Tégla/Brick" Bpmot railcars (Metrovagonmas, Russia - delivered as a compensation for Russian debts to Hungary, they run e.g. from Hatvan to Salgótarján and in Southern Hungary)
Motorcars and railcars in Hungary yesterday and today (fabulous pics, text in Hungarian)

Moving pictures

Trains in Hungary
Trains in Hungary I
Trains in Hungary II
Travelling by railway
Many more trains (!)