Historical research into the First World War has a long tradition. There are a number of academic books on the outbreak of the Great War, its battles, human sacrifices and technical innovations. At the same time, there are a number of historians who have specifically studied the role of the railways in the Great War, so there is a significant lack of basic research in this area. The aim of the study is to examine the management, operation, control and social impact of the trains that ran directly along the front lines and through Hungary, which was otherwise unaffected by the frontiers and didn’t become a theatre of war. After the declaration of war on 29 July 1914, the first Hungarian troops were sent to the south, towards Serbia (Balkan Front), and soon afterwards to the north-east, towards the Russian Empire (Eastern Front). The focus of this study is on these two fronts in the first half of the war, between 1914 and 1916, because, in addition to the movement of people, they also carried supplies directly to the Monarchy’s front, while the western and Italian fronts were directly managed by Austria and Germany.

The advent of the railways had a profound impact on the fates and economies of nations, transforming nearly every aspect of society and culture throughout the 19th century. Despite a somewhat late start, Hungary developed a large and sophisticated rail system. This system was revolutionized in 1889 with the introduction of the zone tariff system by Gábor Baross, which greatly simplified ticket pricing and made rail travel affordable for the average Hungarian. Though few believed it would be sustainable, the Baross system had a substantial international impact. Experts from across Europe traveled to Hungary to study the reform. This paper examines the impact of the unified zone tariff system—the first of its kind in Europe—and explores its reception abroad and the extent to which it served as a model for other nations, drawing on both Hungarian and international historical literature on railway and tariff policy, as well as primary sources.