Old railways, new borders. The impact of treaty of Trianon on Western Transdanubia network (1918–1924).

This article examines the impact of the post-World War I border changes, particularly the Treaty of Trianon, on railway transport in Western Hungary and the newly formed Austrian province of Burgenland. It highlights how the redrawn borders severed many railway lines and networks, causing fragmentation and operational challenges, though the Győr–Sopron–Ebenfurth Railway Company (GYSEV) uniquely maintained its transnational unity across Hungary and Austria. While main railway lines eventually recovered and facilitated cross-border traffic, local railways suffered significant decline, disrupting longstanding economic and social ties in the region. The study situates these developments within broader Central European patterns of railway fragmentation and integration, noting that the Hungarian-Austrian border was less disruptive than others due to mutual economic interests and peaceful cooperation between the two countries during the interwar period.