GYSEV / Raaberbahn

One railway, two names

GYSEV has run trains across the border between western Hungary and eastern Austria since 1872. In Hungary it operates as GYSEV; on its Austrian branch, based at Wulkaprodersdorf in Burgenland, it trades as Raaberbahn AG. It is one railway rather than two separate operators, and trains cross the border without changing company or traction, since the whole route runs on the same 25 kV AC current.

The Hungarian network

GYSEV's Hungarian lines radiate from Győr, Sopron and Szombathely across Western Transdanubia. Regional trains connect Győr with Sopron, Győr with Celldömölk, and Hegyeshalom with Szombathely, while Sopron, Szombathely, Kőszeg and Szentgotthárd each have their own direct services. Further south, trains run from Celldömölk through Boba and Zalaegerszeg toward Bajánsenye, and from Szombathely through Zalaszentiván to Nagykanizsa. InterCity services also use these lines toward Budapest and Graz alongside the regional trains.

The Austrian branch

Raaberbahn AG is based at Wulkaprodersdorf, where it moved in 1933 after starting out in Eisenstadt. Its lines run from Sopron to Wien via Ebenfurth or Wiener Neustadt, from Wulkaprodersdorf to Eisenstadt and Neusiedl am See, and from Szentgotthárd to Graz. The green and yellow Ventus trains introduced in 2016 serve the Austrian branch with free WiFi, power sockets, step-free boarding and air conditioning.

Tickets in Hungary

Fares in Hungary follow the same distance-based national scale as MÁV: a one-way ticket for up to 100 km is valid for four hours, and longer journeys stay valid for one to three days depending on distance. Bicycles travel for a flat HUF 500 fee, and a national bike pass covering unlimited GYSEV and MÁV journeys costs HUF 4,950. Day passes such as the Vármegye24 (HUF 999) and Magyarország24 (HUF 4,999), or the 30-day Országbérlet (HUF 18,900), work across GYSEV, MÁV and VOLÁN bus routes, so one ticket can cover a mixed rail and bus trip. IC trains beyond Győr need a paid seat reservation in second class, though the Sopron to Győr and Szombathely to Győr sections stay reservation free. Since October 2025, the Győr to Budapest IC also requires a ticket bought before boarding, or a HUF 25,000 surcharge applies on the train.

Tickets to and from Austria

From Sopron, tickets to Austria are sold at discounted domestic-style fares under the VOR (Verkehrsverbund Ost-Region) tariff rather than a standard international rate: an adult one-way fare to the Vienna city boundary costs €17.90, with connecting Vienna trams, buses and metro included for an hour after arrival. From Szombathely and Fertőszentmiklós, the EURegio Special return fare covers Wien (€27 from Szombathely, €23 from Fertőszentmiklós) and Graz (€19 from Szombathely), each valid for two days in second class only. Regular travellers can buy an Austrian Vorteilscard at the Sopron international counter for a 45 to 50 percent discount, and the nationwide KlimaTicket Österreich, valid on the Austrian branch along with almost all other Austrian public transport, is sold at Sopron and Wulkaprodersdorf too.

Practical points

Bike space is limited and should be reported when booking. A folding bike under 16 inches travels free as hand luggage; a larger bike needs a ticket and a bike symbol on the timetable for that train. Dogs travel on a lead and muzzle for HUF 500, or free in a closed carrier. Hand luggage is capped at 30 kg per adult. WiFi and power sockets come standard on the Ventus fleet used on the Austrian branch.