“HÉV” stands for “Railway Serving Local Interests” – that is, suburban railway. The HÉV system of Budapest and Pest County (Region of Central Hungary) consists of 4 line groups. The Szentendre line links Szentendre, a nice medieval town (just north to Budapest) with the capital. Budapest tickets are valid as far as “Bekasmegyer” station. Some trains operate only between Batthyany ter (M2) and Bekasmegyer. The Godollo-Csomor lines connect a bunch of suburbs to Budapest. In Godollo, there are two major tourist attractions: the Festetics Palace and the building of the College of Agriculture. The Godollo line serves the “Hungaroring” stop for the Formula-1 racetrack. Trains operate from Ors vezer tere (M2) to Cinkota, Csomor, Mogyorod and Godollo stations. Limit of the Budapest zone: Szabadságtelep and Ilonatelep. The Rackeve line connects the Csepel Island to the capital. Rackeve is 1hr15min to Budapest and is a nice Serbian-style town by the Rackeve Danube-branch. Trains operate from Kozvagohid tram #1 2 24 terminal to Dunaharaszti kulso, Tokol and Rackeve stations. Zone limit: Milleniumtelep. The Csepel line is a rapid transit line linking the Budapest part of Csepel Island to Boraros ter (trams 4-6). Note that there are several tariff zones on HÉV lines, the first zone is the Budapest area in which all Budapest tickets and passes are valid. Outside this zone, additional tickets should be bought. If there is no ticket booth on a station, buy your ticket from the train conductor. A route map is posted in all cars and there are acustic station announcement made as well. During the winter, you may have to open train doors manually at terminals. Please close them after getting on/off to keep cars warm. Don’t get on after the annonuncement for closing doors was made.
Website: www.bkv.hu/hev