MÁV group to take on GySEV staff and rolling stock as Hungarian restructuring advances

HUNGARY: Minister of Construction & Transport János Lázár announced a series of structural changes and improvements to railway services in Hungary at a press conference held in Budapest on January 8.

Lázár said that ‘in line with the Hungarian government’s conscious strategy’ to increase cross-border railway group GySEV’s role in the operation of public transport in Hungary, a further capital increase was granted to the Hungarian-Austrian operator in December, following a previous investment agreement in October. The latest move has seen the Hungarian state increase its stake in the company from 71·8% to 75%, while the Austrian government’s minority shareholding has fallen from 28·2% to 25%.

Also in December, Hungarian logistics company Waberer’s International agreed to acquire a 62·5% stake in GySEV Cargo.

The operation of more routes in Hungary is to be transferred to GySEV later this year, leading to all of the regional passenger traffic in the northwestern provinces of Győr-Moson-Sopron, Vas, Zala changing hands, along with most of those running in Veszprém. All the affected GySEV employees will be taken on by state railway group MÁV-Volán. It was renamed after its merger with national coach company Volánbusz, which was completed at the end of the year.

GySEV rolling stock is to be used throughout the country to reinforce services now operated by nati…