During the Széchenyi Plan period, several major steps were taken to improve Budapest’s public transport system. The first phase of the Budapest Transport Centre’s vehicle development programme brought the first truly visible changes, followed by further progress in the second phase of planned vehicle upgrades for the capital’s tram and trolleybus networks.
In the first phase of the vehicle development programme, between 2015 and 2016, a total of 47 new CAF trams arrived: 35 shorter and 10 longer units, along with 36 new Solaris trolleybuses, including 20 solo and 16 articulated vehicles. The second phase gave the programme fresh momentum, enabling BKK to procure a further 26 trams. The aim of the project was to continue renewing Budapest’s ageing tram fleet.
Today, passengers on four additional lines can travel on quieter, more modern, more comfortable vehicles that are easier for everyone to use. The new trams operate on tram lines 50, 56, 56A and 1. Of these vehicles, 21 are standard-length trams, each offering space for around 200 passengers, while the five longer trams can carry nearly 350 passengers. All of them are low-floor vehicles, making travel more comfortable for passengers with pushchairs, older people and those with reduced mobility.
Clean lines, spacious interiors and quiet operation define the new fleet. Inside the passenger compartment, there are no hard-to-reach seats placed on raised platforms. A modern passenger information system is in place, onboard cameras help ensure safety, and air conditioning provides a pleasant temperature. Energy efficiency is also an important consideration: thanks to their regenerative braking system, these trams use energy economically.
Following the reconstruction of stops, the higher platforms now align more precisely with the trams, making boarding and alighting smoother. On line 50, longer platforms equipped with ramps were built. In addition, 73 CAF trams were fitted with a radio-controlled point-changing system, making services faster and more precise. Thanks to the reliable vehicles, breakdowns have also become less frequent.
Budapest passengers have been using the new CAF trams for some time now, and feedback has been highly positive. With their modern design and greater passenger capacity, they improve both the travel experience and the efficiency of public transport.
The development was implemented from EU funding in the project IKOP-3.1.0-15-2017-00013 under the Integrated Transport Development Operational Programme.
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