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Trams in Budapest

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Trams in Budapest
Line 19 tram in Budapest (2017).
Operation
LocaleBudapest, Hungary
StatusOperational
Routes38 (26 main, 12 supplemental)[1]
Owner(s)BKK
Operator(s)BKV Zrt.
Infrastructure
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Propulsion system(s)Electricity
Stock612[2]
Statistics
Route length174 km (108 mi)[3]
Stops630[3]
2011393.4 million[2]
Horsecar era: 1866 (1866)–1928 (1928)
Status Closed
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Propulsion system(s) Horses
Steam-powered tram era: 1887 (1887)–c.1900 (1900)
Status Closed
Propulsion system(s) Steam
Electric tram era: since 1887 (1887)
Status Still running
Operator(s) BKV Zrt.
Track gauge 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge (1887)
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge (1889 on)
Propulsion system(s) Electricity
Electrification 600 V, DC, overhead wire
Overview
Websitehttps://bkk.hu/en/ Budapesti Közlekedési Központ (BKK) (in English)

The tram network of Budapest is part of the mass transit system of Budapest, the capital city of Hungary. The tram lines serve as the second most important backbone of the transit system (after the bus network), carrying almost 100 million more passengers annually than the Budapest Metro.[2]

In operation since 1866,[4] the Budapest tram network is one of world's largest tram networks, operating on 174 kilometres (108 mi) of total route.[3] As of 2021, it was composed of 38 lines (26 main lines, and 11 supplemental lines denoted by an ’A’ , ’B’ or ’G’ after the route number),[1] and the Budapest Cog-wheel Railway. The system is operated by Budapesti Közlekedési Zrt. (’Budapest Transit LLC.’) under the supervision of the municipal Budapesti Közlekedési Központ (’Budapest Transit Center’).

Since 2016 Budapest tram system use the world's longest 9-sectioned articulated tram vehicle CAF Urbos 3/9.

History

The early days

The first horse-tram line in Budapest was inaugurated on 30 July 1866 between Újpest-Városkapu and Kálvin tér, through Váci út.[4] Over a year before, on 22 May 1865, the Count Sándor Károlyi founded the PKVT (Pesti Közúti Vaspálya Társaság (Template:Lang-en)).[4] Horse tramlines in Buda proper soon followed, built by the competing Buda Public Road Rail Tracks Company (BKVT).[4]

By 1885, Budapest had as many as 15 horsecar lines[5] but since it was obvious that the technology was obsolete. A steam-driven suburban railway line from Közvágóhíd (Slaughterhouse) to Soroksár, run by HÉV, was separately introduced in 1887; two more lines soon followed.[4]

The first electric tram lines in Budapest (1887-1889).

Around this same time, Mór Balázs suggested that a new, electric tram system should be introduced to Budapest. It was Gábor Baross, then secretary of state at the Ministry of Community Service and Transportation who authorised the construction of the first test tram line between Nyugati railway station[4] and Király utca.[5] Balázs teamed up with Siemens & Halske and Lindheim és Társa and formed a new corporation: BVV (Budapesti Városi Vasút (Template:Lang-en)). The construction works (carried out by Siemens & Halske) started on October 1, 1887 and the line was opened on November 28, 1887. The track gauge of this first line was 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge and electricity was supplied to the cars from below to avoid cables hanging across the street.[4][6]

Bond of the Budapesti Villamos Városi Vasut Részvénytársaság, issued 31. December 1908

The second step in the expansion of the system were two 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge lines: on July 20, 1889 the second line, which spanned from Egyetem tér to Fiumei út via Kálvin tér, was opened.[7] It was designed so that in case of a power failure steam engines could tow the carriages. The third line, also standard gauge, was opened on September 10, 1889 and ran from the Hungarian Academy of Sciences to Andrássy út.[8]

Even though not a tram line per se, the first underground line in Continental Europe, the Millennium Underground Railway must also be noted. It was built using a cut-and-cover method between 1894 and 1896 and was first named FJFVV (Ferenc József Földalatti Villamos Vasút (Template:Lang-en)) after emperor Franz Joseph. It used electric cars from the very beginning.[6]

In the first years, tram had no numbers but coloured circular signals instead, for example, a simple red, green, blue or black disk; a red disk with a vertical white stripe or a cross; a white disk with a green 8-pointed green star, etc. This, of course, quickly became very cumbersome so around 1900, when there were already 30 lines, each line got a number – BVV, which was renamed to BVVV (Budapesti Villamos Városi Vasút (Template:Lang-en)) got the even numbers; odd numbers were assigned to a rival transport company, BKVT (Budapesti Közúti Vaspálya Társaság (Template:Lang-en)).[6]

In the last year of the First World War, there were already 1,072 tram trains running in Budapest or on the outskirts of the capital. This fleet carried more than 382 million passengers in Budapest in 1918.[9]

The dynamically growing network brought new companies: two of them served Újpest, the northern part of Pest, one Pestszentlőrinc, which then was a separate town, and one the southern part of Buda and the then-separate village Budafok. These companies were joined together in 1923 by the name BSZKRT (Budapest Székesfővárosi Közlekedési Rt. (Template:Lang-en)). It was during 1939-1944 that the most tram lines (66) existed in the city.[6]

After World War II

Animated gif of tram line changes in Budapest between 1968 and 2005. Looks best in full resolution.

The siege of Budapest left the city with a crippled infrastructure: many houses were destroyed, as well as the bridges bombed, electric cables torn. It was of course of utmost importance to restore the transport network, however, many trams were destroyed either in the siege or in a depot fire that occurred in 1947. This might have been the cause that decisionmakers suggested that trolleybus lines should replace trams in the city centre.[10] Along with cost considerations it is important to note that trolleybuses might be better suited for the downtown area than trams: they turn more easily and produce significantly less noise.

While some tram lines were abolished in favour of trolleybuses, the expansion of the system did not stop. Near Nyugati railway station a new junction of tram lines were built to transport people back and forth to the factories in Angyalföld and Újpest and line 33 through the newly built Árpád Bridge.[11] Line 4 on the Buda side and the tracks on Nagy Lajos király útja were also extended around 1960. The reconstruction of Erzsébet Bridge in 1964 played a significant role in the revival of the tram network: five lines started using it after its opening.[12]

In 1968 there were 83 tram lines in Budapest (10 of which night services) thus reaching the largest extent of the network since World War II,[13] decline was imminent. This happened partly because of the replacement of tram lines with single track and old vehicles with autobuses but also due to the construction of underground lines M2 and M3 which – were then thought to – replace tram lines that used to run above them. In 1972 tram lines on Erzsébet Bridge and Rákóczi út were abolished, then until 1982 tram lines were removed along M3 as well thereby effectively erasing 40 km of rail tracks, around 20% of the Budapest tram network. Along with lines in the city centre, most of the lines in Újpest and some in the southern parts of Pest were demolished.[14]

While many lines were closed down, a significant one was rising: tram 33 was shut down for the renovation of Árpád Bridge in 1981 but when the bridge was reopened, a new line was born on the eastern end of the outer ring road, Hungária körgyűrű, line 1. It has been under construction ever since with segments opened in 1984, 1987, 1990, 1993, 1995, 2000, 2015 and 2019. In 2015 the line crossed to the Buda side of Rákóczi Bridge which was inaugurated in 1995 and was designed for the tram to cross it.[15]

Present and future

As of 2012, it seems that the local governments have shifted towards a more tram-friendly view: line 1 and 3 were renovated [16] and line 1 extended[17] (mostly from EU funding); line 47 and 49 are planned to reach Nyugati tér once again as it used to be their final stop before M3 was opened.[18] A major project was carried out to connect, extend, and develop the tram lines on the Buda side (providing longer lines and fewer transfers).[19]

Lines and developments

As of 2021, it was composed of 38 lines (26 main lines, and 11 supplemental lines denoted by an ’A’ or ’G’ after the route number),[1] and the Budapest Cog-wheel Railway. Among these lines, only Line 6 offers non-stop service, most of the trams run between 5 am and 11 pm.

Line Route Length
(km)		 Number
of stations		 Ride time (end
stn. to end stn.)		 Rolling stock Notes
1 Bécsi út / Vörösvári út ↔ Kelenföld vasútállomás 18.3 32 52 minutes CAF Urbos 3, Siemens Combino,
Tatra T5C5, Tatra T5C5K
1M Bécsi út / Vörösvári út ↔ Népliget 11.2 20 31 minutes ČKD Tatra T5C5, ČKD–BKV Tatra T5C5K
2 Jászai Mari tér ↔ Közvágóhíd 6.0 13 20 minutes Ganz KCSV–7
2M Jászai Mari tér ↔ Keleti pályaudvar 9.4 20 32/34 minutes Ganz KCSV–7
3 Mexikói út ↔ Gubacsi út / Határ út 13.3 32 51 minutes CAF Urbos 3, TW 6000
4 Széll Kálmán tér ↔ Újbuda-központ 8.5 19 30 minutes Siemens Combino
6 Széll Kálmán tér ↔ Móricz Zsigmond körtér 8.3 19 29 minutes Siemens Combino 24 hour service
12 Angyalföld kocsiszín ↔ Rákospalota, Kossuth utca 4.7 11 17 minutes Tatra T5C5K
14 Lehel tér ↔ Káposztásmegyer, Megyeri út 11.1 24 33 minutes Tatra T5C5K
17 Bécsi út / Vörösvári út ↔ Savoya Park 14.7 37 51 minutes CAF Urbos 3, Tatra T5C5, Tatra T5C5K
19 Bécsi út / Vörösvári út ↔ Kelenföld vasútállomás 11.2 24 38 minutes CAF Urbos 3, Ganz CSMG
24 Keleti pályaudvar ↔ Közvágóhíd 5.2 12 19 minutes Ganz KCSV–7, TW 6000
28 Blaha Lujza tér (Népszínház utca) ↔ Izraelita temető 10.8 26 39 minutes Tatra T5C5, TW 6000 Daytime only, does not run on Saturdays
28A Blaha Lujza tér (Népszínház utca) ↔ Új köztemető (Kozma utca) 10.1 25 37 minutes Tatra T5C5, TW 6000
37 Blaha Lujza tér (Népszínház utca) ↔ Új köztemető (Kozma utca) 9.7 23 30 minutes Tatra T5C5, TW 6000 Weekday peak hours only
37A Blaha Lujza tér (Népszínház utca) ↔ Sörgyár 5.8 14 19 minutes TW 6000
41 Bécsi út / Vörösvári út ↔ Kamaraerdei Ifjúsági Park 18.4 39 62 minutes Tatra T5C5K
42 Határ út ↔ Kispest, Tulipán utca 3.0 7 8–9 minutes CAF Urbos 3, TW 6000
47 Deák Ferenc tér ↔ Városház tér 8.8 21 31 minutes Ganz CSMG
48 Deák Ferenc tér ↔ Savoya Park 8.0 18 27 minutes Ganz CSMG Runs only on Saturday.
49 Deák Ferenc tér ↔ Kelenföld vasútállomás 5.4 12 20–21 minutes Ganz CSMG
50 Határ út ↔ Pestszentlőrinc, Béke tér 8.0 20 24–26 minutes CAF Urbos 3, TW 6000
51 Mester utca / Ferenc körút ↔ Nagysándor József utca
6.5 / 8
15 / 24
24 minutes / 30 minutes
 TW 6000
51A Mester utca / Ferenc körút ↔ Ferencváros vasútállomás – Málenkij Robot Emlékhely
2.2
8 / 7
10-11 minutes
 TW 6000 Mornings and evenings only
52 Határ út ↔ Pesterzsébet, Pacsirtatelep
6.9
17 / 16
25 minutes
 TW 6000
56 Hűvösvölgy ↔ Városház tér
16.9
37
55 minutes
 Tatra T5C5K Weekday peak hours only
56A Hűvösvölgy ↔ Móricz Zsigmond körtér
11.2
23
35 minutes
 Tatra T5C5K
59 Szent János Kórház ↔ Márton Áron tér
5.2
15
19-20 minutes
 Tatra T5C5K
59A Széll Kálmán tér ↔ Márton Áron tér
4.1
12
15-16 minutes
 Tatra T5C5K
59B Hűvösvölgy ↔ Márton Áron tér
10.6
26
34 minutes
 Tatra T5C5K School day mornings only
60 Városmajor ↔ Széchenyi-hegy, Gyermekvasút
3.7
10
14-15 minutes
 SGP
61 Hűvösvölgy ↔ Móricz Zsigmond körtér
10.9
26
33-34 minutes
 Tatra T5C5K
62 Rákospalota, MÁV-telep ↔ Blaha Lujza tér (Népszínház utca)
13.5
33 / 34
50-52 minutes
 TW 6000 Weekday peak hours only
62A Rákospalota, MÁV-telep ↔ Kőbánya alsó vasútállomás (Mázsa tér)
9.2
23
34 minutes
 TW 6000 Weekdays only
69 Mexikói út ↔ Újpalota, Erdőkerülő utca
6.5
15
21-22 minutes
 TW 6000

Discontinued lines

It is not always straightforward to decide whether a tram line still exists in Budapest since throughout the decades some numbers may have been carried by several lines (not at the same time though), so some numbers might have appeared and disappeared throughout time. Some lines were assigned new numbers so even though there is no line with that specific number, there is a line on exactly the same route. Of course, existing lines might have been lengthened or shortened, so this also makes hard to exactly define a tram line. Still, the following table tries to summarize these data – termini and dates refer to the last time the number was used.

Number of the line Termini Inauguration and disappearance
2A Jászai Mari tér – Boráros tér H 1973–2013
5 Flórián tér – Hévízi úti lakótelep 1950–1974
7 Óbudai kocsiszín – Margit híd, budai hídfő 1946–1961
7i Fóti út – Rákospalota, Kossuth utca 1967-1974
8 Újpesti piac – Megyeri út 1955–1980
9 Batthyány tér – Budafok, Városház tér 1920–1986
9A Móricz Zsigmond körtér – Albertfalva kitérő 1961–1972
10 Rákospalota, Kossuth utca – Megyeri csárda 1954–1985
11 Margit híd, budai hídfő – Bécsi út 1950–1981
13 Örs vezér tere – Gubacsi út 1955–2001
15 Jászai Mari tér – Újpesti vasúti híd 1940–1977
15A Jászai Mari tér – Váci út 1963–1977
18 Széll Kálmán tér - Savoya Park 1949-2016
20 Ganz gyár – Ferenc körút until 1977
22 Nagyvásártelep – Boráros tér 1932–1970
23 Baross tér (Festetics György utca) – Ferenc körút 1928–2000
23A Népliget – Közvágóhíd 1953-1964, 1976-1980
24G Keleti pályaudvar – Mester utca / Ferenc körút 2015–2020
25 Állatkert (Budapest Zoo) – Thököly út 1920–1973
26 Rókus kórház – Eskü tér 1910–1956
26A Kőrösi Csoma út – Orczy tér 1942–1956
27 Nagyvárad tér – Keleti Pályaudvar 1957–1959
29 József körút – BNV főberjárat 1925–1995
29Y Baross tér (Festetics György utca) – BNV főberjárat 1974–1995
31 Közvágóhíd – Pacsirtatelep 1973–1995
32i Pesterzsébet, Nagy Sándor utca - Ganz-MÁVAG 1967–1975
33 Nyugati pályaudvar – Óbudai kocsiszín 1950–1981
34 Közvágóhíd – Kálvin tér 1949–1951
35 Pacsirtatelep – Határ út – Pacsirtatelep 1951-1953
36 Keleti pályaudvar – Kápolna tér 1945–1994
38 Rókus kórház – Ferenc József laktanya 1920–1970
39 Keleti pályaudvar – Új köztemető 1927–1932
40 Pestszentimre – Pestszentlőrinc 1947–1975
43 Nagytétény – Móricz Zsigmond körtér 1963–1972
44 Zugló, Rákospatak – Keleti pályaudvar 1972–1995
45 Március 15. tér – Keleti Pályaudvar 1952–1963
46 Petőfi híd, budai hídfő – Déli pályaudvar 1958–1963
47B Kamaraerdei Ifjúsági Park – Deák Ferenc tér 2016–2020
48 Nyugati pályaudvar – Albertfalva kitérő 1957–1960
53 Nyugati pályaudvar – Kispest, határ út 1950–1963
56 Moszkva tér – Hűvösvölgy 1930–2008
67 Keleti pályaudvar – Rákospalota, MÁV telep 1902–1997

Rolling stock

Current fleet[20]

As of 24 June 2021

Image Tram type or
subtype 		Number of cars Fleet number Constructed Transportation
in Budapest 		Depot Allocations
Current Original
Ganz, CSMG–1 3 (35) 1301, 1313, 1318 1967–1968 since 1967 Baross, Budafok*, Ferencváros, Kelenföld
Ganz, CSMG–2 27 (85) 1342, 1349, 1360, 1363–1366, 1369, 1402, 1404, 1407, 1418–1419, 1427, 1433–1434, 1437–1445, 1448, 1450–1451 1970–1972, 1975 since 1970
Ganz, CSMG–3 1 (29) 1461 1977 since 1977 Kelenföld
Ganz, KCSV–7 30 1321, 1325–1332, 1335–1337, 1339–1340, 1343–1348, 1350–1356, 1359, 1362, 1370 1997–1999 since 1997 Ferencváros
ČKD, Tatra T5C5 32 (322) 4000, 4014–4015, 4021, 4034–4036, 4044–4045, 4048, 4054–4055, 4154–4155, 4162, 4166–4167, 4171, 4200, 4272, 4277, 4288, 4320, 4322, 4325, 4332, 4335–4336, 4339, 4341, 4346, 4349 1978, 1980, 1984 since 1978 Angyalföld, Baross, Budafok*
ČKD, Tatra T5C5K
Tatra T5C5K2
Tatra T5C5K2M 		288 4001–4004, 4005, 4006–4012, 4013, 4016–4020, 4022–4033, 4037–4043, 4046–4047, 4049–4053, 4056–4120, 4122–4153, 4156–4161, 4163–4165, 4168–4170, 4201, 4202–4221, 4223–4271, 4273–4276, 4278–4287, 4289–4319, 4321, 4323–4324, 4326–4331, 4333–4334, 4337–4338, 4340, 4342–4345, 4347–4348 2002–2004, 2009– since 2003 Szépilona, Angyalföld
DÜWAG, TW 6000 83 (93) 1500–1508, 1510–1521, 1523–1524, 1526–1528, 1531–1538, 1540–1564, 1566–1573, 1575–1587, 1589–1590, 1592 1975–1978 since 2001 Ferencváros, Száva, Zugló
LHB TW 6000 21 1600–1602, 1604, 1606–1607, 1610–1624 1980–1982 since 2012 Száva
Siemens, Combino Supra
 40 2001–2040 2006–2007 since 2006 Hungária
CAF Urbos 3 (9-module)
 17 2101–2117 2015–2016 since 2016 Budafok*, Hungária, Száva
CAF Urbos 3 (5-module)
 56 2201–2256 2014–2016 since 2015

Depots

Name Location Built Operated vehicle types Operated lines
Angyalföld kocsiszín Budapest IV., Pozsonyi út 1. 1896 Tatra T5C5, Tatra T5C5K2 1, 12, 14, 17
Baross kocsiszín Budapest VIII., Baross utca 132. 1889 Tatra T5C5 1
Budafok kocsiszín Budapest XI., Fehérvári út 247. 1899 Tatra T5C5, Tatra T5C5K, CAF Urbos 3 1, 17, 19, 41, 56
Ferencváros kocsiszín Budapest IX., Könyves Kálmán körút 7. 1904 Ganz CSMG, Ganz KCSV–7, TW 6000 2, 24, 28, 28A, 37, 37A, 51, 51A
Hungária kocsiszín Budapest VIII., Törökbecse utca 1. 1912 Combino Supra Budapest NF12B, CAF Urbos 3 1, 4, 6
Kelenföld kocsiszín Budapest XI., Bartók Béla út 137. 1912 Ganz CSMG 19, 47, 48, 49
Száva kocsiszín Budapest IX., Üllői út 197. 1913 TW 6000, CAF Urbos 3 3, 42, 50, 52
Szépilona kocsiszín Budapest II., Budakeszi út 9-11. 1870 Tatra T5C5K 56, 56A, 59, 59A, 59B, 61
Zugló kocsiszín Budapest XIV., Thököly út 173. 1899 TW 6000, nostalgia Ganz UVs 3, 62, 62A, 69

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Budapesti Közlekedési Központ - Timetables". Budapesti Közlekedési Központ (BKK). Retrieved 2013-10-17.
  2. ^ a b c "Annual Report 2011" (PDF). BKV Zrt. 2011. p. 4. Retrieved 2013-10-06.
  3. ^ a b c "Annual Report 2011" (PDF). BKV Zrt. 2011. p. 48. Retrieved 2013-10-06.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "The History of BKV, Part 1 - Development of community transport". BKV Zrt. Retrieved 2013-10-17.
  5. ^ a b "The History of the Budapest Tram Transport". BKV Zrt. Retrieved 2013-10-17.
  6. ^ a b c d Legát, Tibor; Zsolt L. Nagy; Gábor Zsigmond (2010). "Bevezető [Introduction]". Számos villamos [Numbered tram] (in Hungarian). Budapest: Jószöveg. pp. 6–12. ISBN 978-615-5009-15-0.
  7. ^ Legát, Tibor; Zsolt L. Nagy; Gábor Zsigmond (2010). "8". Számos villamos [Numbered tram] (in Hungarian). Budapest: Jószöveg. pp. 57–59. ISBN 978-615-5009-15-0.
  8. ^ Legát, Tibor; Zsolt L. Nagy; Gábor Zsigmond (2010). "24". Számos villamos [Numbered tram] (in Hungarian). Budapest: Jószöveg. pp. 132–137. ISBN 978-615-5009-15-0.
  9. ^ BKV: 120 éves a budapesti villamos vasúti közlekedés [1]
  10. ^ Jakab, László; Zsolt L. Nagy (2011). "Villamospótló". In Legát, Tibor (ed.). Szerbusz trolibusz [Hi there, trolley] (in Hungarian). Budapest: Jószöveg. pp. 46–49. ISBN 978-615-5009-30-3.
  11. ^ Legát, Tibor (2008). "Harminchárom [Thirty three]". Közlekedik a főváros [The capital in motion] (in Hungarian). Budapest: Jószöveg. p. 38. ISBN 978-963-7052-77-4.
  12. ^ Legát, Tibor (2008). "Szimbolizmus [Symbolism]". Közlekedik a főváros [The capital in motion] (in Hungarian). Budapest: Jószöveg. p. 52. ISBN 978-963-7052-77-4.
  13. ^ Gábor Sandi. "Trams of Budapest in 1968". Retrieved 2012-05-18.
  14. ^ Legát, Tibor (2008). "Halványuló sárga [Fading yellow]". Közlekedik a főváros [The capital in motion] (in Hungarian). Budapest: Jószöveg. pp. 60–62. ISBN 978-963-7052-77-4.
  15. ^ Legát, Tibor (2008). "A külvárosi gyors [Express in the suburbs]". Közlekedik a főváros [The capital in motion] (in Hungarian). Budapest: Jószöveg. p. 74. ISBN 978-963-7052-77-4.
  16. ^ Index (2012-05-07). "Bevetik fűvel az 1-es villamos vágányait [Tram line 1 to be seeded with grass]" (in Hungarian). Retrieved 2012-05-18.
  17. ^ Index (2019-07-09). "Beért az 1-es villamos az Etele térre [Tram 1 has arrived at Etele Square]" (in Hungarian). Retrieved 2019-10-06.
  18. ^ Index (2011-11-17). "Budapest: támadnak a villamosok [Budapest: attack of the trams]" (in Hungarian). Retrieved 2012-05-18.
  19. ^ Index (2016-01-16). "Zsebtérképet elő, indul a fonódó villamos [Get your pocket maps ready, the intertwined tram network is starting]" (in Hungarian). Retrieved 2019-10-06.
  20. ^ "Járműállomány (Budapest)". Retrieved 2021-04-02.
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