Toula

Accommodation in Budapest is AirBnB so e have done our money. We have decided to cancel Budapest as it seems the messiest and could be the most problematic destination for us. At this time we will go direct from Prague to Vienna. I am going to contact the hotel in Vienna and see if they will allow us to move our non refundable bookings forward by a few days. Obviously they have no obligation to do so but will ask.

SuperG1955

We're scheduled to arrive in Budapest on Thursday AM on the overnight train from Prague and to leave for Vienna the following Tuesday. Based on the news reports, we're sticking with our plans. One encouraging thing is that the car service we had scheduled in Budapest had cancelled all reservations but has reinstated ours based on a discussion I had with them. It is of course subject to change if the situation reverts to chaos, which they are not expecting. Since they're there and involved I'm inclined to follow their lead,

On that subject, they told me that there are groups of 4000+ refugees expected at the Hungarian Border today and tomorrow. If they are treated differently, which seems to be the Hungarian plan, they will be moved to the Austrian border as quickly as possible with minimal impact on the rail and road transport systems.

WilcoRoger

The situation seems to change every day - now all westbound rail services from HU are restored and running on schedule.

Safe travels, enjoy Budapest, it's a great city!

goteed1

I was just there this week and unless you are going to the train station, which is not near the touristy part of the city, you wouldn't even know this was happening. I enjoyed the trip without any trouble. Although I did see the Football police riot on the way in from the airport, but that was about it.

One other suggestion, if you are talking to drunken locals in a bar about the situation, better to talk about the weather instead. The opinions on this seemed to be very heated on both sides.

GUWonder

Indeed. Budapest is business as usual, except with some train and bus travel -- in so much as it has been the past several years; and even that is now just about normal for at least those not from countries to the south and/or east (or otherwise perceived to be). That said, touching upon the topic of what has gone on with refugee and other migrant movements is a recipe for some emotional voices or worse.

SuperG1955

I arrived in Budapest this morning via the Night Train (EN 477) from Prague. There was no trouble and no problems at the train station.

Concerto

I was there a week ago and all seemed fine. But I wasn't anywhere near the train station. Flights were fine, the airport seemed quiet actually. I think the media makes things look worse than they actually are, although the migrant crisis is bad of course.

Fanjet

The trains between Hungary and Slovakia are not the issue. As the migrants are trying to get to Austria. And AP News reports today that ÖBB has suspended all trains service into/out of Hungary. They are only running train service from Nickelsdorf (Austrian side of the border) to Vienna.

SuperG1955

The earlier problem that we (and many others) were affected by was the situation at Keleti.

I saw the announcement about the ÖBB service suspension later in the day.

I'm scheduled to travel from Keleti - Vienna next Tuesday and will have to make back up arrangements due to the announcements:

From http://www.mavcsoport.hu/en/node/9235 (Bolding is mine)

makos

Direct train services to and from Vieanna and BUD are suspended indefinitely. Crossing boarder on the M1 motorway is also tricky, because sometimes the Austrians just simply close down their borders for hours.

Also from Sept 15th police will start to beat up migrants so things will be tence. If you wanna be on world wide TV just visit Hungary.

Air travel service is uninterrupted, thought prices for air travel increased drastically.

Fanjet

Austria says it is no longer going to suspend the rules which is allowing these migrants to just transit through their country. Let's see how well that goes. Like I said upthread. There is hourly regional train station service between Bratislava and Vienna. If the Budpaest-Bratislava EC train service is not suspended, that routing is probably the best option. It's about 5 hours total on the trains, plus the connecting time in Bratislava, versus the 3 hour direct train ride (which is currently suspended).

makos

Train service from Austria to Germany has been suspended from 17:00 CET. Also border control has been reinstated between Germany and Austria!

the810

If anyone's planning/considering travel between Budapest and Vienna via Bratislava as an alternative, feel free to PM if you need any advice. I know this area (and its transit options and roads) well and will be more than happy to assist you with planning (subject to my availability ).

GUWonder

The German rail company informed the Austrian rail company about the cross-border service situation, and so the Austrian rail company followed the German rail company in shutting down service. And indeed German border control has been temporarily reinstated, on orders from a German cabinet-level figure.

Checks on river boats too?

the810

Train services between Austria and Germany are now resumed with some services still being affected (mostly between Salzburg and Munich) and with documents checks on border.