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BUDAPEST
Hungary

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System
The capital of Hungary is the result of the unification in 1873 of 3 cities: Buda and buda on the western side of the Danube and Pest on the eastern side. Today, Budapest has approximately 2 million inhabitants. In Budapest there is a three line system, with all lines meeting in the city centre at Dek Ferenc Tr. M1 (5 km) was opened in 1896 between Vrsmarty tr in the centre and Szchenyi frd as the

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UrbanRail.Net > Europe > Hungary > BUDAPEST Metro (Subway)

http://www.urbanrail.net/eu/bud/budapest.htm

first electric underground (Fldalatti) line on the European mainland. Almost 80 years later, in 1973, the line was extended to Mexiki t. This line is different from the other two in dimensions, directly under the street, and only 6 m wide and 2,75 m high. Therefore special trains had to be built and a fixed catenary had be installed. For the 100-Years-Anniversary all stations were restored and once again exhibit their historic splendor.

M2 (10 km) is an east-west line connecting both major railway stations, Dli (South station) and Keleti (East station), surface between Pillang utca and the eastern terminus rs vezr tere. Although construction had started already in the 50's, this line was only opened between 1970 (Dek Ferenc tr - rs vezr tere) and 1972 (Dek Ferenc tr - Dli pu.). In autumn 2003, M2 started to undergo total refurbishing. Since it is the most used line in the city, stations will only be closed and major work will only be carried out during the summer until 2007 with the following schedule: summer 2004: stations rs Vezr tere and Pillango utca; summer 2005: stations from Npstadion to Dek tr (possible that Dek tr will only be renovated in 2006 since there are no switches between Dek tr and Dli plyaudvar) summer 2006 and 2007: between Dek tr and Dli plyaudvar. All stations will get elevator access and the route will be refitted with modern electronics that allow trains to be operated by 1 driver. On 1 Jan 2004, Npstadion was renamed Stadionok. M3 (18 km) is a north-south connection on the Pest side of the city. Apart from the southern terminus Kbnya-Kispest, all stations are underground. The first part ( Dek tr - Nagyvrad tr) opened in 1976, in various stages it was extended in both directions. In 1990 it reached jpest Kzpont (with a station design that pays tribute to 1970's stations in Munich or Berlin).

More photos Although the Budapest Metro (M2, M3) is not very old, trains have a rather classical look. Like in Prague and all ex-Soviet metro cities, trains are identical to those used in Moscow. One train is made of five cars on M2 and of six on M3. On the train, stations are announced acoustically and a line panel is installed on top of the doors. BKV ordered new Alstom Metropolis rolling stock for metro lines M2 and M4: 22 5-car and 22 4-car trainsets.

History
M1 (Fldalatti) 02-05-1896 Vrsmarty tr (formerly Gizella tr) - Szchenyi frd (formerly above-ground and named Artzi frd) 30-12-1973 section Hsk tere - Szchenyi frdo is put underground and extended to Mexiki t 1995-1996 complete renovation of the line M2 02-04-1970 Dek Ferenc tr - rs vezr tere 22-12-1972 Dek Ferenc tr - Dli plyaudvar M3 31-12-1976 20-04-1980 30-12-1981 07-11-1984 14-12-1990

Dek Ferenc tr - Nagyvrad tr Nagyvrad tr - Kobnya-Kispest Dek Ferenc tr - Lehel tr Lehel tr - rpd hd rpd hd - jpest-Kzpont

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UrbanRail.Net > Europe > Hungary > BUDAPEST Metro (Subway)

http://www.urbanrail.net/eu/bud/budapest.htm

Photos dm Kovcs

Projects
M4 is now under construction. It will run totally underground between Keleti and Kelenfldi rail stations crossing M3 at Klvin ter, then under the Danube river to Szt. Gellrt ter and south-west through Buda (see link below for details on all stations). The start of construction has been delayed time and again, and the first section will not open before 2010. Later an extension to Bosnyk tr may be added. View map! The line is being equipped by Siemens for full automatic driverless operation. Line M5 is planned to link the northern and the southern suburban (HV) lines. The line will be underground from Kaszsdl to Knyves Klmn krt (Lgymnyosi bridge), via Borros tr. Other parts will include existing suburban routes {Kaszsdl - Szentendre, Knyves K. krt Csepel, K. K. krt - Rckeve}.The first segment of this route may be constructed by 2012, between Lgymnosi hd / Kzvghd - Borros tr - Klvin tr, linking the existing HV-lines to metro lines M3 and M4. Line M2 may be united with Gdll suburban line, which is an old project. The Urban and Suburban Transit Association (VEKE) elaborated a very detailed plan for it. Later M3 might be extended northwards from jpest-Kzpont to Kposztsmegyer, with 3-5 stations possibly after 2015, since most of the surface track have been laid down about 10 years ago and is currently being used by trams. A southern extension to the Ferihegy Airport has been proposed. M1 may be extended to Rkosrendez rail station. See a map illustrating all current projects (by dm Kovcs).

Practical Info
The Budapest Metro operates between 4:30 and 23:10 with trains every 4-5 minutes (2-3 min during rush hours). After 20:00 h there is a fixed timetable which is quite reliable. Good quality network maps are sometimes available at ticket offices. They show all bus, tram, metro and HV lines and give you all kind of general information on the system. Tickets (2008, in Hungarian Forint): Single 270F if bought in advance, else 350F 1-Day-Pass - 1550F 3-Day-Pass - 3400F 7-Day-Pass - 4000F Budapest has an open fare system. You have to cancel your ticket at the entrance of the metro or on buses and trams, but there are no barriers. Controls are very thorough on some days! Some stations have ticket vending machines showing on-screen instructions in 4 languages (Hungarian, German, English and Italian). Generally the Budapest Metro is well integrated into the city transport system which includes buses, trams, metro and HV (suburban) trains. All tickets are valid for any means of transport within Budapest City.

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UrbanRail.Net > Europe > Hungary > BUDAPEST Metro (Subway)

http://www.urbanrail.net/eu/bud/budapest.htm

Basic Hungarian for metro users: fldalatti - underground, fel - direction, tr - square, hd - bridge, plyaudvar - rail station, kijrat - exit

Links
BKV Official Page Line 4 project includes detailed information on stations and construction UrbanRail.Net > Budapest Metro Gallery METROS by dm Kovcs incl. Detailed map showing all rail transport in Budapest, from mainline railways to trams metrobudapest.uw.hu Millenium Subway by Akos Varga (about M1 and trams) Villamosok & metrk by Tams Nagy Track map (by Stefan Baumgartner)

HV (Suburban Rail)
Out of four HV-lines, only two are directly connected to the metro system. The line to Szentendre in the north leaves from Batthyny tr (M2) and runs underground as far as Margit hd. During day time trains run every 10 minutes with every second train only as far as Bksmegyer (city limit). This Stadtbahn type has level crossings all along the route. The eastern line to Csmr and Gdll leaves from M2's eastern terminus at rs vezr tere with trains every 20 minutes. The two southern lines to Csepel and Rckeve can only be reached by bus or tram.

Photos dm Kovcs

Metro Museum
At Dek Ferenc tr, in the former Fldalatti station, there is a Metro Museum showing the original trains of today's M1 and illustrating the history of the Budapest Metro.

Thanks to Hmori Dniel and Roger Barta!

2004 UrbanRail.Net by Robert Schwandl.

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