Thanks to both EU and national funding, a world-class bus depot and service center now supports one of Europe’s most advanced bus fleets in Kaposvár.
Anyone passing by the new bus depot in Kaposvár today might wonder if they’ve taken a wrong turn. “Well, this place is first-class!” exclaims Uncle Pista, who in his younger days tinkered around the old smoky Ikarus buses with his toolbox. Now, standing before him is a facility that looks more like a spacecraft service hangar than a traditional bus garage.
And in a sense, he’s right. With the help of EU and national funds, what was once just a garage has grown into a multifunctional service hub. It has everything a modern fleet could need: a spacious, state-of-the-art repair hall, organized storage facilities, a three-story office building, modern fueling stations, and even a new gatehouse.
Every detail shows that Kaposvár is planning for the long term and making the most of EU funding opportunities. The site now houses the 40 environmentally friendly CNG buses purchased earlier through project funding, as well as two fully electric midibuses delivered in 2021. To support their operation, two new charging stations have been installed. The center also boasts a massive gas capacity, with fueling provided by a compressed natural gas station.
Green solutions are built into the facility: heat pumps provide low-cost heating and cooling with minimal electricity use, while an on-site transformer and photovoltaic system ensure efficiency. During the day, the solar panels can generate enough electricity to cover the office building’s entire energy needs. In short, the facility is energy-efficient and sustainable, capable of producing the power required for its own operation.
Accessibility was also a key part of the design. On the ground floor, there’s a barrier-free customer service area, along with dedicated parking spaces to make administration easier for people with limited mobility.
The project is part of a large-scale program to modernize public transport in Kaposvár, setting a pioneering example in the county and the wider region with its new environmental philosophy. Thanks to these developments, thousands of Kaposvár residents now travel every day with cleaner air and enjoy the benefits of a safer, more comfortable public transport system.
The development was implemented from EU funding in the project IKOP-3.2.0-15-2016-00002 under the Integrated Transport Development Operational Programme.
Find out more about the project in the Project Finder:Details
