Trams in Budapest

Trams in Budapest

Line 2 tram in Budapest (2008).
Operation
Locale	Budapest, Hungary
Status	Operational
Routes	33 (26 main, 7 supplemental)[1]
Operator(s)	BKV_Zrt.
Infrastructure
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Propulsion system(s)	Electricity
Stock	612[2]
Statistics
Route length	156.85 km (97.46 mi)[3]
Stops	627[3]
Passengers (2011)	393.4 million[2]
Horsecar era: 1866–1928 Status Closed Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in) Propulsion system(s) Horses
Steam-powered tram era: 1887–c.1900 Status Closed Propulsion system(s) Steam
Electric tram era: since 1887 Status Still running Operator(s) BKV Zrt. Track gauge 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 ^3⁄8 in) (1887) 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in) (1889 on) Propulsion system(s) Electricity
Overview
Website	Budapesti Közlekedési Vállalat (BKV) (Hungarian)

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 (besides 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 156.85 kilometres (97.46 mi) of total route.^[3] As of 2014, it was composed of 33 lines (26 main lines, and 7 supplemental lines denoted by an "A" 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").

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 (English: Pest Public Road Rail Tracks Company)).^[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 (English: Budapest City Trains)). 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) and electricity was supplied to the cars from below to avoid cables hanging across the street.^[4][6]

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 (English: Franz Joseph Underground Electric Railway)) 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 (English: Budapest Electric City Trains)) got the even numbers; odd numbers were assigned to a rival transport company, BKVT (Budapesti Közúti Vaspálya Társaság (English: Budapest Road Rail Company)).^[6]

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. (English: Budapest Capital Transport Co)). 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.^[9] 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 favor 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.^[10] 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.^[11]

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,^[12] 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.^[13]

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 and 2015 – the last one on the Buda side of Rákóczi Bridge which was inaugurated in 1995 and was designed for the tram to cross it.^[14]

Present and future

As of 2012, it seems that the local governments have shifted towards a more tram-friendly view: line 1 and 3 will be renovated and line 1 extended (mostly from EU funding);^[15] line 47 and 49 are planned to reach Nyugati tér once again as it used to be their final stop before M3 was opened.^[16] There is also a major project being planned to connect, extend, and develop the tram lines on the Buda side (providing longer lines and fewer transfers), which is held up by debate between the districts and the city.^[17]

Current lines

As of 2015, it was composed of 30 lines (25 main lines, and 5 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	Start	End	Length	Stops	Hours of service Weekdays	Rolling stock
1	Bécsi út / Vörösvári út	Etele út / Fehérvári út	16.6 km	29	3:58 - 00:45	Tatra T5C5, Tatra T5C5K
2	Jászai Mari tér	Közvágóhíd H	6.0 km	13	4:23 - 00:21	KCSV7
3	Mexikói út M	Gubacsi út / Határ út	13.3 km	32	3:57 - 00:29	TW 6000, CAF Urbos 3
4	Széll Kálmán tér M	Újbuda-központ M	8.5 km	19	4:19 - 23:56	Combino Supra Budapest NF12B, Ganz CSMG
6	Széll Kálmán tér M	Móricz Zsigmond körtér M	8.3 km	19	0:00 - 24:00	Combino Supra Budapest NF12B
12	Angyalföld kocsiszín	Rákospalota, Kossuth utca	4.6 km	12	4:24 - 21:44	Tatra T5C5, Tatra T5C5K
14	Lehel tér M	Káposztásmegyer, Megyeri út	7.0 km	17	3:36 - 00:38	Tatra T5C5, Tatra T5C5K
17	Bécsi út / Vörösvári út	Savoya Park	n/a	36	4:30 - 23:30	Tatra T5C5, Tatra T5C5K, Tatra T5C5K2, CAF Urbos 3
18	-	-	-	-	-	No more service. Last tram departed on 15th of January 2016.
19	Batthyány tér M+H	Kelenföld vasútállomás M	5.1 km	11	4:25 - 23:54	Tatra T5C5
24	Keleti pályaudvar M	Közvágóhíd H	5.2 km	12	4:11 - 00:08	Ganz CSMG, KCSV7
24G	Keleti pályaudvar M	Mester utca / Ferenc körút	4.5 km	10	21:58 - 00:09	Combino Supra Budapest NF12B, Ganz CSMG
28	Blaha Lujza tér M	Izraelita temető	10.8 km	26	3:51 - 00:08	TW 6000
37	Blaha Lujza tér M	Új köztemető (Kozma utca)	9.7 km	23	5:48 - 8:45 13:37 - 19:03	TW 6000
37A	Blaha Lujza tér M	Sörgyár	5.8 km	14	4:29 - 14:33 18:04 - 00:32	TW 6000
41	Batthyány tér M+H	Kamaraerdei Ifjúsági Park	12.3 km	26	4:27 - 00:19	Tatra T5C5
42	Határ út M	Kispest, Tulipán utca	3.0 km	7	4:25 - 23:53	TW 6000
47	Deák Ferenc tér M	Városház tér	8.8 km	21	4:17 - 00:35	Ganz CSMG
48	Deák Ferenc tér M	Savoya Park	8.0 km	18	Saturdays only	Ganz CSMG
49	Deák Ferenc tér M	Kelenföld vasútállomás M	5.4 km	12	4:18 - 00:02	Ganz CSMG
50	Határ út M	Pestszentlőrinc, Béke tér	8.0 km	20	4:36 - 00:33	TW 6000
51	Mester utca / Ferenc körút	Nagysándor József utca	6.6 km	18	4:22 - 23:41	TW 6000
51A	Mester utca / Ferenc körút	Ferencváros vasútállomás	2.3 km	8	7:52 - 9:01 13:49 - 16:25 21:23 - 23:16	TW 6000, Ganz CSMG
52	Határ út M	Pesterzsébet, Pacsirtatelep	7.0 km	17	4:16 - 00:05	TW 6000
52	Határ út M	Pesterzsébet, Pacsirtatelep	7.0 km	17	4:16 - 00:05	TW 6000
56	Hűvösvölgy	Városház tér	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
56A	Hűvösvölgy	Móricz Zsigmond körtér M	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
59A	Széll Kálmán tér M	Márton Áron tér	4.2 km	12	19:22 - 00:04	Tatra T5C5K
59B	Hűvösvölgy	Márton Áron tér	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
60	Városmajor	Széchenyi-hegy, Gyermekvasút	3.7 km	10	4:57 - 23:42	SGP
61	Hűvösvölgy	Móricz Zsigmond körtér M	10.8 km	25	4:42 - 00:25	Tatra T5C5K
62	Rákospalota, MÁV telep	Blaha Lujza tér M	13.7 km	34	4:27 - 9:08 13:20 - 19:46	TW 6000
62A	Rákospalota, MÁV telep	Kőbánya alsó vasútállomás	9.0 km	23	4:55 - 22:42	TW 6000
69	Mexikói út M	Újpalota, Erdőkerülő utca	6.5 km	15	4:31 - 00:24	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
17	Bécsi út / Vörösvári út - Margit híd, budai hídfő H	1981-2014
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
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
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^[18]

Image	Tram Car Type	Modifications and subtypes	Fleet numbers	Depot Allocations	In service
	Ganz CSMG Ganz csuklós	CSMG−1, CSMG−2, CSMG−3, CSMG−E, KCSV−5	1301, 1307, 1310, 1313–1320, 1324, 1333, 1341–1342, 1349, 1357, 1360–1361, 1363–1369, 1400–1402, 1404, 1407, 1413, 1415–1420, 1422-1425, 1427-1428, 1430, 1433-1435, 1437–1448, 1450–1451, 1461, 1465–1469, 1471, 1473–1481	Budafok, Ferencváros, Kelenföld, Száva	78
	Ganz KCSV–7	KCSV−7	1321, 1325–1332, 1335–1337, 1339–1340, 1343–1348, 1350–1356, 1359, 1362, 1370	Ferencváros	30
	DÜWAG TW 6000	TW 6000	1500–1592	Száva, Zugló	93
	LHB TW 6000	TW 6000	1600–1609	Száva	10
	Tatra T5C5	Tatra T5C5	4000, 4002, 4008–4011, 4014–4015, 4021, 4028–4029, 4031, 4034–4037, 4044-4049, 4051-4055, 4057-4059, 4061, 4070, 4074, 4080, 4083, 4085-4087, 4089, 4091, 4103, 4107, 4110, 4112-4113, 4116-4117, 4125, 4127, 4130-4132, 4135, 4137, 4140, 4149, 4151-4171, 4200, 4202-4203, 4205-4207, 4210-4211, 4214, 4216-4221, 4223, 4227-4230, 4232, 4234, 4236, 4238-4241, 4245-4246, 4248-4250, 4252, 4254, 4257-4265, 4267-4273, 4275, 4277-4313, 4315, 4317-4323, 4325-4326, 4328-4329, 4332, 4335-4336, 4339, 4341, 4344-4346, 4349	Angyalföld, Baross, Budafok	186
	Tatra T5C5K	Tatra T5C5K, Tatra T5C5K2	4001, 4003–4007, 4012–4013, 4016-4020, 4022–4027, 4030, 4032–4033, 4038-4043, 4050, 4056, 4060, 4062–4069, 4071–4073, 4075–4079, 4081-4082, 4084, 4088, 4090, 4092-4102, 4104–4106, 4108-4109, 4111, 4114–4115, 4118–4120, 4122-4124, 4126, 4128–4129, 4133-4134, 4136, 4138-4139, 4141–4148, 4150, 4201, 4204, 4208-4209, 4212-4213, 4215, 4224–4226, 4231, 4233, 4235, 4237, 4242-4244, 4247, 4251, 4253, 4255-4256, 4266, 4274, 4276, 4314, 4316, 4324, 4327, 4330–4331, 4333–4334, 4337–4338, 4340, 4342–4343, 4347–4348	Szépilona, Angyalföld	134
	Siemens Combino	Combino Supra	2001–2040	Hungária	40
	CAF	Urbos 3	2201–2225 2101–2112, 2226–2235	Hungária, Budafok, Száva	47

Depots

Name	Location	Built	Operated vehicle types	Operated lines
Angyalföld kocsiszín	Budapest IV., Pozsonyi út 1.	1896	Tatra T5C5, Tatra T5C5K2	1, 12, 14
Baross kocsiszín	Budapest VIII., Baross utca 132.	1889	Tatra T5C5	1
Budafok kocsiszín	Budapest XI., Fehérvári út 247.	1899	Tatra T5C5, Tatra T5C5K, Ganz CSMG	18, 41, 47, 48
Ferencváros kocsiszín	Budapest IX., Könyves Kálmán körút 7.	1904	Ganz CSMG, Ganz KCSV–7, TW 6000	2, 24, 28, 37, 37A, 51, 51A
Hungária kocsiszín	Budapest VIII., Törökbecse utca 1.	1912	Combino Supra Budapest NF12B	4, 6
Kelenföld kocsiszín	Budapest XI., Bartók Béla út 137.	1912	Ganz CSMG, Tatra T5C5	19, 41, 47, 49
Száva kocsiszín	Budapest IX., Üllői út 197.	1913	Ganz CSMG, TW 6000, CAF Urbos 3	3, 42, 50, 52, 62, 62A
Szépilona kocsiszín	Budapest II., Budakeszi út 9-11.	1870	Tatra T5C5K	61
Zugló kocsiszín	Budapest XIV., Thököly út 173.	1899	TW 6000, nostalgia Ganz UVs	3, 62, 62A, 69

See also

• BKV Zrt.
• Budapest Castle Hill Funicular
• Budapest Cog-wheel Railway
• Budapest Metro
• List of town tramway systems in Hungary

References

1. "Budapesti Közlekedési Központ - Timetables". Budapesti Közlekedési Központ (BKK). Retrieved 2013-10-17.
2. "Annual Report 2011" (PDF). BKV Zrt. 2011. p. 4. Retrieved 2013-10-06.
3. "Annual Report 2011" (PDF). BKV Zrt. 2011. p. 48. Retrieved 2013-10-06.
4. "The History of BKV, Part 1 - Development of community transport". BKV Zrt. Retrieved 2013-10-17.
5. "The History of the Budapest Tram Transport". BKV Zrt. Retrieved 2013-10-17.
6. 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. Jakab, László; Zsolt L. Nagy (2011). "Villamospótló". In Legát, Tibor. Szerbusz trolibusz [Hi there, trolley] (in Hungarian). Budapest: Jószöveg. pp. 46–49. ISBN 978-615-5009-30-3.
10. 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.
11. Legát, Tibor (2008). "Szimbolizmus [Symbolism]". Közlekedik a főváros [The capital in motion] (in Hungarian). Budapest: Jószöveg. p. 52. ISBN 978-963-7052-77-4.
12. Gábor Sandi. "Trams of Budapest in 1968". Retrieved 2012-05-18.
13. 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.
14. 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.
15. 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.
16. Index (2011-11-17). "Budapest: támadnak a villamosok [Budapest: attack of the trams]" (in Hungarian). Retrieved 2012-05-18.
17. Index (2011-01-24). "Csak a vita fonódik, a budai villamos nem [It is only the debate that goes on, not the tram]" (in Hungarian). Retrieved 2012-05-18.
18. "A jelenlegi villamos járműállomány". Retrieved 2013-10-10.

External links

• Budapesti Közlekedési Vállalat (BKV) - official site (Hungarian)
• Budapesti Közlekedési Vállalat (BKV) - official site (English)
• Budapest network map (including tram lines) (pdf)
• The GS Tram site - Budapest
• Villamosok.hu (English)
• Trams of Hungary