Children railway, Budapest

The Children's Railway is located in the west of the city of Budapest, the capital city of Hungary. Its eleven-kilometre-long, narrow gauge line runs through the woods of the hills of the city on the Buda side. The engines are driven by adult engineers, and children on duty, are continuously supervised by adult railway employees. Apart from that, children do their jobs, operate the switches and signals, print tickets and keep passengers informed, on their own. The Children's Railway in Budapest is not a unique institution of its kind. But it has always been by far the largest, most popular and serious one of them all in the world. The railway operates throughout the year, except for Mondays from September to April. Trains run from 9 o'clock in the morning until 5 o'clock in the winter and until 7 o'clock in the summer.

Most of the line of the Children's Railway runs in the park forests of the hills of Budapest. The forests are mostly made up of oak, ash and beech trees and thick undergrowth. Despite of the closeness of the city and the great number of day-trippers, the wildlife of the area is still quite rich. Among other birds, long-eared owls, buzzards, hawks, titmice and blackbirds live in the foliage. Squirrels and hedgehogs are the most common small games. Outside the game preserve, usually only their footprints or other marks can be noted. Big games, such as foxes, deer and wild boars can sometimes be viewed from the train's windows taking shelter from the noise. The area belongs to the Danube-Ipoly National Park. All plants and animals are under strict protection regardless of their uniqueness.

How to get there?
Szechenyi-hegy Station of the Children's Railway can be reached by public transportation as follows: Take Tram No 59 or 61 at Moszkva ter to the Fogaskereku Vasut (Cogwheel Railway) stop. Change to the Cogwheel Railway (Tram No 60) as far as the Szechenyi-hegy terminal. Proceed on foot in Golfpalya utca.
By car: Take Alkotas utca at Deli palyaudvar (South Railway Station). Proceed on Nagyenyed utca, Istenhegyi ut, Kolto utca and Eotvos ut until the parking lot next to Normafa Halting. Continue on Hegyhat ut until you reach Szechenyi-hegy Station. There is a free parking lot with limited capacity adjacent to the station.

Fares
Adult oneway ticket : 450HUF, Children : 250HUF. Adult return ticket : 1200HUF, Children : 600HUF. Family ticket: 3000HUF
The holder of the valid Budapest Card and his companion aged between six and fourteen can travel along the entire line of the Children's Railway using section tickets instead of line tickets. The holder of the card is eligible to an adult section ticket, his companion to a children's section ticket. The Children's Railway is a point of acceptance of Budapest Cards but they cannot be bought there.

Timetable of Children's Railway

Forest Railway of Lillafured

The railway works only from Papirgyar stop, which can be reached by Bus 1 from Miskolc Railway station. Take off at the last stop at Majalis park and follow the signs
The second most important and most famous narrow gauge line can be found in Northern Hungary. The forest railway carries passengers since 1924, nowadays only a tourist attraction. Starts from and climb into the mountains of Bukk , to arrive around 50mins later to Lillafured. From Lillafured the train line go a short distance to Omassa. There are a second line as well, which is not in work all year.
Sights along the lineAlong the main line ( Miskolc-Garadna ) we can see the Castle of Diosgyor, the paper factory, Hotel Palota, lake Hámori and the dropstone cave. As we leave lake Hámori we can find an ancient iron producer and a troute breeder. You can see the so-called troute-path at Middle-Garadna stop. At the terminus in Garadna there is a museum showing the history of this railway line and local forestation open to tourists all year. Along the branch line ( paper factory-Mahoca ) we can find examples of beautiful landmark. This area includes Csanyik-valley, the area of Ortasteto and Andokut. The educational centre in Fonagysag gives accomodation and food service for groups all the year round.

How to get there?
By car : from Budapest take M3 highway to Miskolc, take the first exit to Miskolc, and follow the signs to the city center. At the Miskolc Plaza Mall take the left turn, and go along the road which will reach the tramline. Follow the tramline till the OMV petrol station. The train station is opposite the petrol station.
By mass transportation: if you arrive by train , take a tram number 1 and get off at the 'LAEV Kisvasut' stop.

Fares : Adult one way : 500HUF, Children : (under 4 it is free, 4-12 years old) 400HUF
You can carry a bike for 500HUF, Dog : 500HUF, blind guide dogs are free

Santa's Train every year, Santa's coming to town and children can ride on the narrow gauge forest train to reach Santa's wonderland (Lillafured), where colorful programs awaiting for the small ones. Contact us for more info.

Forest Railway of Palhaza

This is the oldest forest railway in Hungary, built in 1888. There are trains three times a day , the line is working from 20th Apr - 24th Oct. Time of travelling is 1hour.
The Forest railway of Palhaza was built between the Castle of Kokapu and a wood-mill, but nowadays for tourists only. The surrounding Zemplen mountains make it a real farytale machine as it goes along the 9.3kms track. It's passing the Castle of Kokapu (which is a castlehotel nowadays), go through a tunnel.

How to get there?
Palhaza is a bit far from major roads. By train : Catch a normal train from Budapest Keleti station which goes to Satoraljaujhely through Miskolc. Change to bus at Satoraljaujhely.
By car : go along on M3/m30 highway to Miskolc, than follow route to Satoraljaujhely

Fares : 440HUF for adults, 330HUF for children (between 4 - 14), it is free under 4.