Trains and other things: Komárom, Győr, Hegyeshalom, Sopron

After arriving late last night to Budapest, I'm waking up following morning ready to explore Hungary. Today, I will make a round trip from Budapest and back.

Since the train on the previous day was delayed, I could not use the metro as it was already closed. Had to take a taxi instead. Today, I'm using metro for the trip from my hotel to the station.

Budapest has the oldest metro in Europe, however, this Line M4 opened in 2014.

Alstom Metropolis

From my hotel, I'm travelling to Keleti station - which is translated as Eastern station. It is one of the four important train stations in Budapest, and despite being called Eastern, it is today serving many international services westbound.

From Wikipedia: "The building was designed in eclectic style by Gyula Rochlitz and János Feketeházy and constructed between 1881 and 1884. The main façade is adorned with two statues depicting James Watt and George Stephenson. Inside the station are frescos by Karoly Lotz."

Rail transport in Hungary is mainly owned by the national rail company MÁV, with a significant portion of the network owned and operated by GySEV. (Wikipedia)

The Raaberbahn or GySEV is a Hungarian-Austrian railway company based in Sopron, Hungary. The company is a joint enterprise of the states of Hungary (65.6%), Austria (28.2%) and a holding belonging to ÖBB Austrian Federal Railways (4.9%). In Hungary it is called Győr-Sopron-Ebenfurti Vasút (GySEV), in German it was called Raab-Oedenburg-Ebenfurther Eisenbahn (ROeEE) until 2008 when it changed to its name to Raaberbahn. (Wikipedia)

470 504 is a Taurus ES 64 U2 locomotive from GySEV

This locomotive was manufactured in 2002 and got its "GySEV 140 years" livery in 2012, the year when the company celebrated its birthday since foundation in 1872.

Since I have 1st class Interrail pass and a reservation for an Intercity train, I have been able to access the lounge with coffee and snacks.

The lounge at Keleti station

The entrance to the lounge

471 005 is a Vectron AC DPM (Diesel Power Module) locomotive, in service since 2017

Intercity from Sopron

380 008 Škoda 109E1

Škoda locomotive was hauling the train from Czechia

My first train is a GySEV Intercity 932

There is a mandatory seat reservation on all Intercity trains in Hungary for Interrail pass holders. I have reserved my seat in advance through Interrail.eu service, which turned out was a good idea since the train was full, and would probably not be possible to reserve a seat shortly before departure.

The train has only 3 coaches, two Bmz 2nd class and one ABmz combined 1st and 2nd class.

I'm travelling on the railway No.1 from Budapest to the border with Austria. It is one of the most important railway lines in Hungary and it is used by both passenger and freight trains.

The network map of GySEV

My first stop is at the station of Komárom

The station of Komárom is located next to the Danube river, on the other side is the Slovakian town Komárno.

761 004 and 761 006, EuroRunner from Metrans

189 158 and 189 150 Eurosprinter from MRCE

753 609 CZ Loko EffiLiner 1600 from CER Cargo Holding SE

193 724 Vectron MS from ELL, hired to LokoTrain sro, Česká Třebová

471 004 Vectron AC

1116 229 Taurus ES 64 U2

Railjet service between Budapest, Vienna and Munich

My next train is the Regional Sz 4942 from Budapest to Győr

The train is operated with MÁV Class 415, Stadler Flirt

Hungarian railways company MÁV - Magyar Államvasutak, has several division, the one that operates passenger services is named MÁV START Zrt.

After a short trip, I've arrived to Győr.

Győr is the most important city of northwest Hungary, the capital of Győr-Moson-Sopron County and Western Transdanubia region, and—halfway between Budapest and Vienna—situated on one of the important roads of Central Europe. The city is the sixth-largest in Hungary, and one of the seven main regional centers of the country. (Wikipedia)

The original station was destroyed during World War II, current station was constructed in 1958.

The station is serving different railway lines, among others there are some non-electrified.

Train to Celldömölk with Bhv coaches and MÁV Class 418 locomotive

Class 418 is a diesel locomotive manufactured 1972–1984 by Ganz–MÁVAG

Caterpillar 3516B DI-TA SC diesel engine inside this Class 418

Service to Veszprém

My next train is Euregio to Hegyeshalom

MÁV Class 425 is a Bombardier Talent, and very similar to ÖBB Class 4124

The train can operate both in Hungary and Austria, thus having two power systems 15kV AC and 25kV AC

I've arrived at Hegyeshalom which is an important border station between Austria and Hungary.

From Wikipedia: "A charter given by Andrew II of Hungary in 1217 mentions the settlement as Hegelshalm. After the Ottoman wars, the town was settled by German Jewish settlers. The name of Hegyeshalom is from the two Hungarian word = Hegyes + Halom. The word "Hegyes" means "mountainous" (or "piked") and the word "Halom" means "pile"."

Railjet and Talent trains.

MÁV Class 630 manufactured by Ganz between 1974–1988 is the most powerful locomotive made in Hungary

As it is a border station, there is a large rail yard here, so it is a perfect spot for railway

It seemed that this freight train got stuck here for a while blocking all tracks on the main line Nr.1

The staff was checking the situation

GySEV Class 247, aka ÖBB Class 5047

Finally, the freight train was removed and the tracks were free

As it is a border station between countries with two different power systems, some locomotives have to be shunted from one side to another

Here is 1116 168 being shunted by MAV Class 478

ÖBB Class 1116 is actually supporting both 15kV and 25kV AC

But on this one, it says only Austria and Deutschland for some reason

Now it can operate without any help

193 371 Vectron MS is a new locomotive from 2019 and DB Cargo

Seems that I'm not the only photographer here

610 102, Softronic Transmontana from CER Cargo Holding SE, Budapest

This locomotive is based on the Romanian version of ASEA built EA locomotive. Green Cargo has purchased this type for freight operations in Sweden, so at the moment this locomotive can operate only in Romania, Hungary, Trand Sweden.

193 792 Vectron MS from RTB Cargo

Cars from Suzuki

1116 072 "Bondesee"

MÁV Class 628, previously named M62 is a Soviet-built diesel locomotive for heavy freight trains, exported to many Eastern Bloc countries as well as to Cuba, North Korea and Mongolia. From 1965 till 1978 the Hungarian State Railways MÁV received 294 locomotives named M62. (Wikipedia)

CFR Class EA from AWT / Constantin Grup

Hegyeshalom station

MÁV Class 411

My next train is a GySEV Regional service

Inside Stadler Flirt from GySEV

Traveling on line 16 Hegyeshalom–Szombathely railway

Csorna station

Here I will change on the line to Sopron

GySEV Class 435, Stadler Flirt 3

Regional train 9934 to Sopron

The Győr-Sopron railway line number 8 is the most important railway line of GYSEV in Hungary. Hungarian section is approx 85 km long.

Now I understand where the colours of GySEV are coming from...

Old coaches of GySEV

I've reached Sopron

The main office of GySEV in Sopron

Here I can see the old bus from Hungarian company Ikarus

Local beer

Soproni Domonkos Rendház

For the trip back I'm taking direct train IC943 to Budapest

GySEV Class 324

As mentioned earlier GySEV Intercity trains have coaches of type Bmz and ABmz

1st class compartment in ABmz

2nd class compartment. Yes, it is exactly same except for fabric of the seats. Usually, 1st class compartments have more legroom.

Important to close the door to the compartment in order to get the full effect of the air condition

Each compartment has a display

A map is showing the location of the train and the speed

Seat reservation which I purchased in advance. The price is only 3 EUR. Unfortunately, Interrail reservation service can only send these reservations by mail (UPS Standard), which took some time - so if purchasing this reservation - I suggest to do it well in advance.

Suddenly I could see a freight car from Sweden

Hemstation: Trelleborg

The train passing by a railway crossing with open gates

Luckily there were no cars here...

The train back was less crowded than on the way from Budapest in the morning, however, the closer to Budapest the more passengers entered the train

On the way back I'm getting off at Kelenföld station, which is Budapest's fourth busiest railway station (after Keleti pu, Déli pu and Nyugati pu). Opened in 1861, it is situated south-west of the city centre, in Újbuda or District XI in the suburb Kelenföld.
Today, Kelenföld is an extremely busy station, with almost all passenger and freight services operated by Hungarian Railways towards Transdanubia passing through. (Wikipedia)