Following significant disruptions in train services due to a signal malfunction, MÁV prepares for potential further issues with an emergency fleet stationed at Kelenföld railway station.
On Sunday, the Hungarian State Railways (MÁV) will station all of its air-conditioned replacement buses at Kelenföld railway station in anticipation of any further disruptions.
This decision follows a signal malfunction on Saturday morning that halted train services between Érd and Tárnok.
Trains experienced significant delays ranging from 30 to 60 minutes, and several services were canceled or redirected before reaching their final destinations.
Replacement buses were utilized to transport affected passengers during this peak holiday weekend.
Zsolt Hegyi, the CEO of the MÁV Group, announced the plan via
Facebook on Saturday evening, stating that the buses will be ready regardless of the operational status of the signal systems.
In light of the outages, Hegyi has ordered an immediate investigation to determine responsibility for the signal failure.
The incident has raised concerns about the operational integrity of the railway systems, notably on the Balaton line, which includes services to Székesfehérvár and connecting routes.
Minister of Construction and Transport Lázár János has pledged that all affected passengers will receive a full refund for their tickets.
Minister János pointed to Siemens, the company that supplied the signal equipment a decade ago, as potentially responsible for the failure of the signaling device.
As the disruptions unfolded, there was notable critique regarding MÁV's contingency plans.
David Vitézy, a former candidate for the Mayor of Budapest, questioned the preparedness of MÁV to handle other potential incidents that might arise elsewhere in the country while all replacement buses are concentrated in Kelenföld.
This situation highlights ongoing infrastructure challenges faced by the railway network and the need for robust systems to cope with emergencies.