Hungary has implemented strict energy-saving mandates across its national railway network following the emergency shutdown of the Paks Nuclear Power Plant. According to Railway Gazette, the plant, which is responsible for nearly 40% of the country's electricity generation, was forced to cease operations due to record-low water levels in the River Danube, which are essential for cooling the facility’s reactors.

To stabilize the national grid, the state operator MÁV has introduced mandatory load-shedding measures. Effective August 3, all freight train movements are suspended daily between 17:00 and 22:00, with limited exceptions for critical services. Furthermore, electric locomotives are required to restrict current consumption during acceleration to 75% of nominal levels between 17:00 and 23:00. These restrictions have caused delays across the network, with freight operators like Metrans advising clients to anticipate extended transit times while they work to align operations with the reduced infrastructure capacity.

Beyond freight adjustments, MÁV is aggressively optimizing its internal power usage. This includes rescheduling electric bus charging sessions to off-peak night hours and enforcing temperature control mandates or shutdowns for air-conditioned facilities during the evening peak. Minister of Transport Dávid Vitézy emphasized that large-scale domestic consumers must prioritize efficiency to help the grid manage the current deficit. As the country faces this energy crisis, the government has encouraged remote work for civil servants to further reduce evening electricity demand, while the power plant remains offline with no confirmed restart date.