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Vál-völgyi narrow-gauge railway
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Felcsút station (Vál Valley narrow-gauge railway)Photo: Abelovszky Tamás, Hungarian Hiking Association
The Vál-völgyi narrow-gauge railway is unique in several respects: currently, it is our newest narrow-gauge railway built on the trackbed of a former standard-gauge line, and moreover, it was put into operation not so long ago, in 2016. Today, trains pulled by Mk48 locomotives chug between the Puskás Akadémia stadium and the Alcsútdoboz arboretum.
The history can be dated much earlier than 2016: in 1898, the Bicske–Székesfehérvár railway line was put into operation. The 49-kilometer-long railway was built by the Bicske-Székesfehérvár HÉV, which soon merged with the Börgönd-Sárbogárd HÉV. At that time, the HÉV designation really meant local railways – not to be confused with today's green trains serving the Pest agglomeration. Accordingly, the Bicske vicinal line connected ten settlements along the winding route between hills, where the maximum speed at construction was 40-50 km/h. The track pair that once connected two international railways – like many other branch lines – slowly deteriorated; it was mainly kept alive by serving several military facilities. Except for these, freight traffic ceased in 1972; the last passenger trains rattled through Vértesalja eight years later.
The following decades were full of unexpected turns. In the early 1980s, some sections of the Székesfehérvár–Lovasberény segment were renovated; subsequently, freight trains operated up to Lovasberény serving the Csákvár State Farm and forestry – occasionally, freight trains can still be seen here, and passenger special trains ran here years ago. At one point, the complete renovation of the line was considered, as part of the eocén program, a planned but never realized Transdanubian collecting power plant was designed to be built in Bicske, and Bakony coal would have reached its destination shorter from Székesfehérvár. There was also talk of restarting passenger transport, but none of these plans materialized, and only the condition of the track continuously deteriorated.
The former HÉV section between Bicske and Vértesacsa was purchased from MÁV in 2009 by the Puskás Ferenc Football Academy. Initially, they considered revitalizing the standard-gauge railway, but due to costs, they opted for the narrow-gauge railway instead, primarily intending it for local tourism by the operators. Based on earlier plans, the railway's later extension toward either Lovasberény or Bicske (even via Bicske to Etyek) is not excluded.
Stations:
Prices:
- Single ticket (6 km): 1000 HUF
- Round-trip ticket (6+6 km): 1600 HUF
- Day ticket: 2200 HUF
- Weekend ticket: 4000 HUF
- Family single ticket: 2900 HUF
- Family day ticket: 6500 HUF
Discounted ticket prices (for children over 6 years, daytime students, and seniors over 65):
- Single ticket (6 km): 500 HUF
- Round-trip ticket (6+6 km): 800 HUF
- Day ticket: 1100 HUF
- Weekend ticket: 2000 HUF
Other ticket prices:
- Bicycle ticket: 500 HUF
- Live animal supplementary ticket: 500 HUF
Timetable:
Trains run from spring to fall. A detailed schedule can be found on the narrow-gauge railway website .
The data is for information purposes only and reflects the status as of June 2025. Always check the service provider’s website before arriving, and if you find discrepancies, please let us know!
Author’s recommendation
- It is worth combining the narrow-gauge railway ride with a visit to the Alcsútdoboz arboretum.
- In summer, make sure to take advantage of the 10-15 minute stop at Felcsút for an ice cream at the station buffet!
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List of narrow-gauge railways in Hungary on Természetjáró.hu
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Track types
Show elevation profileSafety information
- When walking between railway tracks, remember that a special train or maintenance vehicle can arrive at any time, and the forest is surprisingly good at soundproofing. Always keep a safe distance: the widest vehicles can be up to 2.5 meters wide, so they extend 70-70 cm on both sides from the gauge, plus any protruding load or open door may add further width.
- Do not walk on the tracks in the vicinity (within 10 meters) of switches: these areas are generally oily, the sleepers are slippery here, and the switches contain many tripping hazards that may remain hidden especially at night or under snow.
- Never change the position of a switch: the counterweight can fall on your foot, the moving switch rail can pinch other parts of your body, and a train arriving at a wrongly set switch can cause an accident even at very low speeds.
- Keep some meters of distance in front of or behind a standing vehicle when crossing tracks: a train or its locomotive can start moving at any time without special signals.
- The surface of the rails is slippery when wet, even if covered with a thin layer of rust.
Tips and suggestions
The Vál-völgyi narrow-gauge railway timetableRoadbook
The center of the line is Felcsút railway station (where the traction depot can also be found), which is located in the middle of the route, so the train ride starts from the outer Puskás Akadémia stop. The end point of the narrow-gauge railway closer to Bicske can be reached by a few minutes' walk from the stadium – first crossing a small stream called Vál-víz, then walking under a poplar row, embraced by agricultural land. What first catches the eye (here and at the other stations too) is that the environment is very sterile compared to other domestic narrow-gauge railways: nicely built, well-maintained platforms and tall street lamps welcome the passengers. The latter seems a bit strange at the forest-field edge, but when the traditional train appears, we can be assured that we will experience a real narrow-gauge railway journey.
The vehicle fleet consists of Mk48 locomotives and Bax series carriages manufactured in 1961 at the Hungarian Wagon and Machine Factory in Győr (plus an open bicycle carriage converted from a freight car), which came from the Nyírvidék narrow-gauge railway. Despite the excellent condition of the line, don't expect to speed; the trains chug comfortably on rails laid 760 mm apart. After leaving the Puskás Akadémia stop, the route descends beside the Vál-víz, then the trains clatter along under the gardens, past the last houses of Felcsút, all the way to Felcsút station.
The station building has remained from the time of the main railway, beautifully renovated, a first-class HÉV type building, where today a ticket office and a café operate. The train stops here for 10-15 minutes, so there is time in summer for an ice cream, or at other times a refreshment or coffee, and the locomotive shed can also be admired (from the outside).
Exiting the station, the route crosses road 811, then begins a comfortable climb, leaving the Vál-víz valley along a winding forest track. The journey currently ends at Alcsútdoboz arboretum stop; from here, the eponymous botanical garden can be reached by a short walk here.
Vál-völgyi kisvasút (Felcsút állomás)
The Arboretum of Alcsút
Vál-völgyi kisvasút (Alcsútdobozi arborétum mh.)
Public transport
Public-transport-friendly
You can get to Felcsút and Alcsútdoboz by regional buses from Bicske or from Székesfehérvár, Baracska (Etyek, Martonvásár) directions.
- To reach Puskás Akadémia stop, you need to get off at the Felcsút, grain warehouse stop.
- For Felcsút railway station, get off at the Alcsút-Felcsút railway station entrance road stop.
- For Alcsútdoboz arboretum stop, get off at the Alcsútdoboz, castle stop.
Get Timetable to destination
Directions
- To reach the Puskás Akadémia stop, you need to walk about 1 kilometer from the Felcsút, grain warehouse stop, first heading toward the village center, then turning left onto Puskás Ferenc Street beside the Stadium, then continuing straight along the promenade to the station.
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From the bus stop to Felcsút railway station, walk approximately 200 meters south, first along Fő Street, then turn left onto Mozdony Street!
- From the bus stop to Alcsútdoboz arboretum stop, you need to walk about 800 kilometers along the arboretum fence, heading toward the Puskás Ferenc Sport Hotel.
Parking
- You can leave your car near Felcsút railway station or Puskás Akadémia stop in the parking lot next to the stadium.
- At the Alcsútdoboz arboretum stop, you can park in the botanical garden's parking lot.
Coordinates
Equipment
- You don't need any special equipment to travel along the narrow-gauge railway, and since all carriages are covered, you can manage without a raincoat and umbrella. Passengers are welcomed with heating during cold weather, so you won't be cold during the trip.
- If a walk along the railway tracks is planned, a strong, closed shoe is definitely needed because of the crushed stone ballast.
Localization
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
User Questions