Opportunities regarding the role of the Salgótarján narrow-gauge railway network in tourism

Abstract

Salgótarján became a town 100 years ago; its development was driven by the era's technological innovations and local mineral resources. Rapid urbanization brought not only socio-economic growth but also the creation of a transport network designed to meet increased logistical demands—traces of which remain visible today. An extensive network of narrow-gauge railways and funicular tracks once connected the heavy-industrial city’s mines with its residential areas; some of these routes now serve as popular trails for mountain bikers. These tracks are distinguished by unique infrastructure from the city's transport history, such as tunnels. The city's distinctive layout—built into narrow valleys—combined with the historical Trianon borders and the merging of the urban area with neighboring settlements, has created specific transportation challenges. Development plans outlined by local experts—including the expansion of fixed-track transport—point toward sustainable mobility while building upon the city's industrial heritage.