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Hungary’s Leading Logistics Experts Say an Intermodal Transformation Is Inevitable

The competition between road and rail is over — the future lies in cooperation. This was the key message agreed upon by Hungary’s leading logistics professionals at the 5th Eastern European Intermodal Conference. According to the speakers, the current market restructuring is not a crisis but a new beginning: what happens now will determine who becomes Central and Eastern Europe’s new logistics hub. However, Hungarian logistics will soon face a new wave of growth for which the country’s infrastructure is not yet prepared.

Amid wars, economic slowdown, and skyrocketing energy prices, a new chapter is beginning in Hungarian freight transport — as emphasized during the most anticipated event of the 5th Eastern European Intermodal Conference, the “TOP Gun of the LOGISTICS” roundtable. The discussion featured respected industry leaders — Zsolt Barna, Chairman and CEO of Waberer’s Group and President of the Hungarian Road Transport Association; Dr. Imre Kovács, Chairman of the Board of Rail Cargo Hungaria; Attila Zahalka, Commercial Director of METRANS Container Kft.; Bence Gyűrűs, Country Director of DP World Contract Logistics Europe; and Tamás Gebhardt, Country Manager of COSCO Shipping Lines (Central Europe). The debate was moderated by Botond Szalma, Vice President of FONASBA.

Cooperation Instead of Competition

Experts agreed that the economic slowdown in Central and Eastern Europe has also affected the logistics sector: industrial production has fallen by 15–20% in several countries, while rail transport is hampered by track closures, diversions, and the war. Even so, Hungarian logistics has adapted, and intermodal transport has become the key to flexibility and competitiveness.

Participants stressed that road and rail are not rivals but complementary partners. Intermodal transport is no longer just an environmental issue but an economic necessity — rail handles bulk goods efficiently, while road transport connects the network’s endpoints.

“Decades were wasted trying to make the two sectors compete with each other, but now everyone realizes that only joint development and coordinated operations can lead to sustainable growth,” the discussion concluded.

Road transport still plays a major role: about 290,000 people work in the sector, and there are 12,000 licensed transport companies in Hungary. However, rising taxes and costs are expected to shift long-distance freight increasingly toward rail, supporting the intermodal transition.

Hungary is Not Yet Prepared for Growth

One of the roundtable’s main conclusions was that Hungarian logistics will soon experience a new wave of growth that its infrastructure cannot yet handle. The inflow of Chinese investment is unprecedented; the Asian factories being built in Hungary possess advanced technology and will drastically increase freight volumes.

“These factories are here and will start producing — but neither the motorways nor the current rail capacity can handle this increase. The question is not whether there will be goods, but where and how we will be able to transport them,” warned the experts.

EU-funded railway projects are often poorly coordinated, with simultaneous works causing track closures and congestion that undermine the reliability of rail freight. According to professionals, better coordination of infrastructure development and traffic management is one of the most urgent tasks.

The Key to the Future: Preparing for Reconstruction

Participants also warned that Ukraine’s reconstruction could become the greatest logistics opportunity of the coming years — and Hungary must prepare for it now. The goal is for incoming traffic to stay in Hungary, generating domestic added value, and for Hungary to become a logistics hub in Central Europe rather than just a transit country.

“The aim is for the Hungarian network not merely to serve as a corridor but to create value — yet this requires swift decisions and coordinated developments while the market is still redistributing roles in Eastern Europe,” the roundtable participants emphasized.

The Region as the New Engine of Logistics

The roundtable’s message echoed the conference’s overarching theme: Central and Eastern Europe can become Europe’s new engine of freight transport. The event, organized by the Association of Hungarian Logistics Service Centers (MLSZKSZ), brought together representatives from six countries and five European ports to discuss the region’s logistics future.

Zsolt Fülöp, President of MLSZKSZ, highlighted that intermodal transport in Hungary grew by 21% in 2024. Combined transport continues to expand steadily, with efficiency and green transition becoming simultaneous strategic priorities.

In the international section, representatives of the ports of Hamburg, Rijeka, Koper, Trieste, and Antwerp–Bruges presented their latest developments, all focusing on strengthening rail connections and sustainable transport solutions. According to participants, Hungary is a key inland link between the Adriatic and Northern European logistics corridors, and the future will be defined by the development of green, rail-based transport connections.