Alpine engineering techniques are also being used to protect the railway in the Danube Bend

Rail services have resumed and the track closure has ended – the CEO of MÁV reported on the company’s social media page that work on the Göd–Vác line had been completed. In his post, Zsolt Hegyi noted that, in addition to the exciting tasks carried out using alpine techniques, there were also some less spectacular works taking place on the line. The rails were replaced between Göd and Vác, and the ballast was also renewed using 120 tonnes of crushed stone. As a result of these works, the line speed of 120 km/h will gradually be restored.  

The accumulated debris has been cleared away

Experts from MÁV also carried out work in the Danube Bend to ensure that trains can run safely and reliably in the region. The rocks on St Michael’s Hill, which stands 484 metres high and had become a hazard, were removed using mountaineering techniques. In addition, they cleared away the sediment trapped by the protective structures. As a result of climate change, flash floods and past mining activity, erosion processes on the hill and in the surrounding area have intensified since 2010.

Four years ago, a mudslide and rockfall buried the railway line

In June 2022, following heavy rainfall, around 10,000 cubic metres of mud and rock debris cascaded down from St Michael’s Hill onto the No. 70 railway line. At the Dömös crossing, rock debris and alluvium covered the railway track over a 1,700-metre stretch. During the restoration work, the overhead line system was rebuilt, and the embankment and retaining wall were repaired. Due to erosion, the debris must be removed several times a year to prevent damage to the railway track.