Budapest Children’s Railway 🇭🇺

The Gyermekvasút, officially designated as MÁV Zrt. Széchenyi-hegy Gyermekvasút and also known as Line 7, is a narrow-gauge railway situated in the Buda Hills of Budapest. Running between the city's second and twelfth districts, this non-electrified, single-track route stretches over 11 kilometres and features passing points at its stations. It connects two main terminals, Széchenyihegy and Hűvösvölgy, which differ in elevation by 235 metres.

What distinguishes the line is that almost all operational and commercial roles—excluding the train driver—are carried out by children aged 10 to 14 working under adult supervision. Originally named the Úttörővasút, or Pioneer Railway, the service gained a Guinness World Record in 2015 as the longest railway line operated by children. The system has provided generations of young staff with practical hands-on experience and serves as a foundation for potential railway careers.

In 1947, the Hungarian State Railways decided to build a youth-operated railway. After considering locations such as Margaret Island, Népliget, and the Gödöllő Palace area, construction began in the Buda Hills on April 11, 1948. The initial section opened in July 1948, followed by a second segment a year later, and the full line to Hűvösvölgy was completed in August 1950. Although operations briefly stopped during the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, the line remained undamaged and resumed service in February 1957.

Travelers can reach the Széchenyihegy terminus via a 250-metre walk from the Budapest Cog Railway's upper station, while the Hűvösvölgy terminus sits adjacent to a local tram stop. At Hűvösvölgy, visitors can tour a museum showcasing artifacts from the communist era. Trains operate at speeds up to 20 kilometres per hour, taking around 40 to 45 minutes to complete the route, extending to roughly 50 minutes during summer due to longer station stops. Additionally, the line hosts the Carpathian Basin Small Railways' Day season opener every second Saturday of April.