Economy, Transportation

The Danube River, which flows from north to south through the center of the country, is a major artery of the Hungarian transportation system. With its navigable tributaries, it provides low-cost transit for a large portion of domestic freight and passenger service, and offers ready access to the markets of central and southeastern Europe and to the Black Sea. The completion of a canal connecting the Main and Danube rivers in 1992 allowed for goods to be shipped from the Black Sea to the North Sea.

Hungary’s railroad system, which consists of 7,769 km (4,827 mi) of track, is owned and operated by the government. Although roads have become increasingly popular for transporting goods and people, Hungary’s railways have seen an increase in travel to destinations outside of Hungary. Hungary has 188,203 km (116,944 mi) of roads, of which 43 percent are paved and suitable for heavy traffic. The main roads radiate from Budapest. Hungary’s national airline was formerly owned entirely by the state but has now been partially privatized. Flights are handled by an international airport located near Budapest.