The trains began to "come back to life" on Tuesday evening as temperatures dropped below 38C, Vitezy said.

The heat had triggered safety systems to halt battery charging, preventing the trains from restarting after stops. In some cases, battery cell temperatures exceeded 70C, he added.

The manufacturer, Stadler, is working on a solution. Newer KISS trains, also made by the Swiss manufacturer, did not experience the issue.

The incident highlights Hungary's lack of preparedness for the increasing frequency and intensity of heatwaves, which can cause unexpected disruptions, Vitezy said. Future vehicle designs must account for extreme weather becoming the norm, he added.

"Let there be no doubt: while humanity has failed to slow climate change, adapting to hotter and more extreme weather is now unavoidable. This requires more resources, preparation, patience, and sacrifice -- not just in the distant future, but today. And in this context, a well-functioning train temporarily shut down for safety reasons is still one of the mildest consequences, however frustrating it may be," Vitezy said, thanking passengers for their patience and expressing hope that temperatures would not reach 38-40C again on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, govt submits bill to establish transport organiser, rolling stock management company

The government on Tuesday submitted to parliament a bill to establish a national transport organiser and a rolling stock management company in order to ensure the effective use of the EU funds allocated for the development of railway transport.

The organisational reform is a prerequisite for the competitive awarding of public railway services, which is a condition for the use of European Union funds allocated for railway vehicle development.

The national transport organiser will be responsible for contracting public passenger transport services and carrying out tasks related to competitive bidding, service development and oversight, timetables and fare systems, and in the longer term, collecting and monitoring revenue, and providing information to passengers.

The mission of the national transport organiser is to convince as many people as possible of the benefits of using fast, comfortable and reliable public transport by developing high-quality, attractive public transport services, uniform nationwide timetables, connections and a fare system.

The establishment of an independent rolling stock management company is necessary for drawing down funds from the European Recovery and Resilience Facility. The company will be established as a 100pc state-owned company, with the minister of transport and investment exercising ownership rights.

The company's independence and separation from other public service systems is a condition for the European Commission. According to the amendment, the rolling stock management company must begin operations by August 31, 2026.

Photo: MAV Group

Source: MTI – Hungary’s national news agency since 1881.

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