The Railway and the Film Industry

Keleti Train Station is one of the busiest railway hubs in Budapest, located in the heart of the city. Completed in 1884 based on the designs of Gyula Rochlitz, its construction was influenced by his extensive research trips to some of Western Europe’s most significant train stations. This explains the station’s eclectic architectural style, reminiscent of Berlin’s former Lehrter Station. Visitors to Keleti are often struck not only by its beauty but also by the sheer scale of its main hall. The station spans approximately 16,800 square meters, with its grand glass hall measuring 180 meters in length, 42 meters in width, and 31.4 meters in height. In total, Keleti has 13 platforms, four of which are located within the central hall.

In An American Rhapsody (2001), Keleti appears among various Hungarian locations. The film follows the journey of Zsuzsa, played by Scarlett Johansson, the youngest daughter of a family that emigrates from Hungary to America.

Hungary has also been a hotspot for action films, including Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011), directed by Brad Bird. At the very beginning of the movie, a stunning aerial shot captures Keleti Station. In the scene, Agent Hanaway, played by Josh Holloway, is seen fleeing across the station’s rooftop before making a daring escape with a spectacular leap.

Keleti has appeared not only in feature films but also in television series. In the spy thriller Covert Affairs, the station doubles as a Moscow railway hub. Another example is the South Korean drama Memories of the Alhambra, starring Hyun Bin and Park Shin-Hye, where Keleti takes on the role of a Barcelona train station at night.

Beyond films and TV series, advertising campaigns have also been drawn to Budapest’s busiest station. Among many others, Gucci found inspiration in Keleti’s eclectic 19th-century style, selecting it as the main location for its 2022 Gift Campaign.

Alongside Keleti, Nyugati Train Station is another standout location. Also situated in central Budapest, its stunning architecture makes it one of the city’s architectural gems. Opened in 1877, its iron structure was considered a technical marvel at the time. The station’s design was created by the company of Gustave Eiffel, the renowned architect of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

Nyugati features 17 platforms, with its central hall stretching 146 meters in length. The hall itself is 42 meters wide, while its tallest point reaches 25 meters. The station’s breathtaking façade is composed of a vast glass hall framed by two elegant side buildings adorned with numerous windows. In keeping with the architectural trends of the era, the structure is decorated with two prominent corner turrets and domes, each topped with a French-style roof.

Nyugati has been a beloved filming location for many productions, including Gwen Stefani’s 2007 music video Early Winter. In addition to scenes shot among the trains in the station’s central hall, the video also provides an exclusive glimpse into the station’s magnificent Royal Waiting Room.

Hollywood has also taken advantage of Nyugati’s cinematic appeal. Brad Pitt filmed scenes here for Spy Game (2001), where the station stood in for Berlin. Several other sequences from the movie were shot across different Hungarian locations.

Another notable production filmed at Nyugati is The Man with the Iron Heart (2017), a World War II drama set in Prague. The station appears multiple times throughout the film, even making a brief appearance in the trailer.

A significant portion of the third season of the Berlin Station series was shot in Hungary. The creators of the EPIX spy drama made extensive use of Nyugati, including a high-stakes chase scene. In the show, the Hungarian station doubles as Tallinn’s main railway hub, Balti Jaam Station in Estonia. One of the show’s main actors, Leland Orser, even personally introduced the location to fans.

In recent years, Nyugati has also become a popular setting for fashion shoots and commercials. One example is a Lacoste ad, which begins with a chance encounter between a man and a woman on a train platform. The man then follows her onto a train, leading them on an extraordinary time-traveling journey. Additionally, other brands such as Boden and Brax have chosen Nyugati as a backdrop for their campaigns.

Take, for example, the train station in the town of Pásztó, built in 1898 and nestled in Hungary’s scenic hilly region. This small station exudes a charming countryside atmosphere, enhanced by its warm yellow-painted facade. Some of the tracks have become overgrown with grass—a characteristic rural detail that makes it an ideal setting for scenes featuring a steam locomotive. Despite its modest size, Pásztó’s station has 15 platforms, a remnant of its past as a thriving mining town. The station’s disused platforms and unique features made it a key location for Gucci’s 2022 Gift Campaign, as mentioned earlier.

In contrast, the train station in Hatvan showcases a completely different architectural style. Built in 1956, its arched design and yellow hues give it a distinct Spanish-inspired character. The station’s passenger area features covered raised platforms accessible via underpasses, while a pedestrian overpass provides a panoramic view of the entire station.

Mezőtúr’s train station, dating back to 1858, was constructed during the height of the Habsburg Empire. To this day, its facade retains romantic architectural elements typical of the era, such as the intricate decorative details beneath the eaves. The station underwent renovations in 2009, which included the addition of a platform roof, further enhancing its status as a heritage site. Some scenes from the previously mentioned Memories of the Alhambra were filmed at this location.

In addition to renting nostalgia trains from the central railway company, productions can also access historic railway vehicles through the Hungarian Railway History Park. This facility offers its extensive collection both within and beyond its grounds. Spanning 70,000 square meters, the park houses more than a hundred railway vehicles, along with the necessary equipment for railway operations. Among its treasures is the country’s oldest functioning steam engine, dating back to the 1870s. Besides its impressive train collection, the park also features a dedicated hangar that is available for filming. Another major advantage of this location is its quiet environment, as no significant railway traffic passes through the area.

If a specific train model is required but unavailable in Hungary, it is possible to bring carriages from abroad for the duration of the shoot. For instance, in collaboration with the Hungarian Railway, the Austrian Majestic Imperator train was transported and stored in Hungary for the previously mentioned Gucci Gift Campaign.

One notable advantage of filming in Hungary is the availability of railway locations without overhead power lines—an exceptionally rare feature. A prime example is the Székesfehérvár–Tapolca railway line, which offers far fewer restrictions and more dynamic filming conditions. This scenic route winds through the country’s hilly landscapes and follows the shoreline of Lake Balaton, one of Europe’s largest freshwater lakes.

And finally, a few statistics. Hungary’s railway network spans over 8,000 kilometers, with passenger traffic flowing through 16 major train stations and nearly 600 small to medium-sized stations. While many stations have been renovated over the years, countless others remain frozen in time, offering a rustic, weathered aesthetic. The country’s oldest station, built in 1860, is located in the countryside city of Székesfehérvár. Whether the project is a romance, a drama, an action film, or a story set in Moscow, Paris, or even the Wild West, Hungary offers an unparalleled variety of railway locations to suit any production’s needs.