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Great news: It will be easier to reach Lake Balaton by train very soon
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The so-called pre-season train timetable of the MÁV-VOLÁN Group is to be introduced before Pentecost. From mid-May, it will be easier than ever to travel to Lake Balaton via train, as more trains and more comfortable conditions will await passengers.
From 13 May to 21 June, the MÁV-VOLÁN Group will implement its pre-season timetable for trains to Lake Balaton in preparation for the upcoming summer holidays. Every year, Hungarian railways prepare for the increased summer traffic on the lake with more trains and additional services.
“From 13 May, a month before the official school holidays, we will provide a more frequent service to the lake shore and increase the capacity of bicycle transport,” the railway company announces on its website.
In general, the larger towns along the lake will be more easily reachable by additional services besides the usual trains that run every hour. Compared to the winter off-season, there will also be more bicycle carriages, and more InterCity (IC) coaches to provide more seats for holidayers.
The expansion of services is much needed, since, as the company writes, around 3 million passengers used the Balaton services in the whole season, both last year and the year before.
Changes in train services running to the South of Lake Balaton:
The so-called “Déli->Parti” InterRegion trains between Budapest’s Déli Station and Fonyód and Balatonszentgyörgy will run every two hours.
Balaton InterCity trains will have first-class carriages, and from 25 May, dining cars will also be available on these services.
On weekends and public holidays, air-conditioned KISS double-decker trains will also operate between Szob and Fonyód under the name Jégmadár express train, providing a direct connection from the Dunakanyar region to the Balaton.
“Owl-trains” will be running on Friday and Saturday nights between Keszthely and Déli Station.
Changes on the Northern coast of Lake Balaton:
Kék Hullám express trains will run every two hours between Budapest and Tapolca. These trains are the fastest way to reach Balatonalmádi, Balatonfüred, and the villages beyond Balatonfüred. From the high season onwards, premium 1+ class bistro services will be available on this line.