Locomotive Fire Disrupts Services at Budapest's Keleti Railway Station
Emergency services contained the blaze, but train operations faced initial delays and an investigation into the cause is underway.
A locomotive caught fire at Budapest’s Keleti Railway Station on Friday evening, prompting prompt intervention by firefighting units to contain the blaze and mitigate its spread.
Passengers at one of Hungary’s busiest train hubs experienced disruptions as the authorities temporarily restricted rail services to ensure safety and facilitate firefighting efforts.
Eyewitnesses reported substantial smoke and fire emanating from a locomotive situated on a side maintenance track at the station’s Verseny Street side.
This locomotive, primarily used for pre-heating train carriages, started the fire under circumstances that remain unclear.
Ádám István Kiss, spokesperson for the Budapest Disaster Management Directorate, informed local media outlet Telex that the fire initially involved a single locomotive, but partially spread to another nearby engine.
Fortunately, the rapid response of professional firefighters from the capital, supported by volunteers from Lőrinc-Kertváros, succeeded in extinguishing the flames utilizing multiple water jets.
In a public statement released via its Facebook page, the Hungarian State Railways (MÁV) confirmed the incident and announced that, though the fire had been contained, some train services had been momentarily disrupted due to necessary safety protocols.
The statement assured the public that no injuries had occurred and outlined that arrangements for affected passengers were being managed by the National Emergency Management Center.
MÁV also declared that an immediate investigation into the blaze’s origins has been initiated, stressing that no potential cause, including arson, is currently ruled out.
Officials reiterated their commitment to ensuring traveler safety and minimizing disruption, suggesting that alternative travel arrangements are being organized for passengers through concerted efforts.
Despite initial service disruptions, by shortly after 8 PM, MÁV announced that coordination with disaster management authorities had allowed operations to resume without major restrictions, although some schedule adaptations could still occur.
Videos and photographs of the incident have surfaced online, capturing the intensity of the fire and the effective firefighting response.
Passengers at one of Hungary’s busiest train hubs experienced disruptions as the authorities temporarily restricted rail services to ensure safety and facilitate firefighting efforts.
Eyewitnesses reported substantial smoke and fire emanating from a locomotive situated on a side maintenance track at the station’s Verseny Street side.
This locomotive, primarily used for pre-heating train carriages, started the fire under circumstances that remain unclear.
Ádám István Kiss, spokesperson for the Budapest Disaster Management Directorate, informed local media outlet Telex that the fire initially involved a single locomotive, but partially spread to another nearby engine.
Fortunately, the rapid response of professional firefighters from the capital, supported by volunteers from Lőrinc-Kertváros, succeeded in extinguishing the flames utilizing multiple water jets.
In a public statement released via its Facebook page, the Hungarian State Railways (MÁV) confirmed the incident and announced that, though the fire had been contained, some train services had been momentarily disrupted due to necessary safety protocols.
The statement assured the public that no injuries had occurred and outlined that arrangements for affected passengers were being managed by the National Emergency Management Center.
MÁV also declared that an immediate investigation into the blaze’s origins has been initiated, stressing that no potential cause, including arson, is currently ruled out.
Officials reiterated their commitment to ensuring traveler safety and minimizing disruption, suggesting that alternative travel arrangements are being organized for passengers through concerted efforts.
Despite initial service disruptions, by shortly after 8 PM, MÁV announced that coordination with disaster management authorities had allowed operations to resume without major restrictions, although some schedule adaptations could still occur.
Videos and photographs of the incident have surfaced online, capturing the intensity of the fire and the effective firefighting response.
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