“Railway employees did not sign a contract to fight passengers behaving like animals,” Construction and Transport Minister János Lázár declared in response to reports of a rise in attacks on railway workers.
The state railway company MÁV reported on Sunday that the number of assaults on ticket inspectors has risen from 78 in 2023 to 100 in 2024 by the middle of December. Of these, 59 were physical assaults, 39 physical and verbal assaults, including a death threat, and in two cases employees suffered
severe injuries.
One passenger was also attacked, and 262 thefts have been recorded in 2024. In a Facebook post, state secretary for transport Bálint Nagy called it outrageous that frustrated passengers who often dodge fares hurt and humiliate MÁV employees performing public duties.
He said the ministry is also working continuously to reform transport but for that an improvement of the attitude of people imbued with violence is also needed.