My wife and I visited Budapest, Hungary for the first time in early December. Naturally I took many photos of the streetcars / trams while I was there, and we rode a few as well.
Our hotel was not far from the Deák Ferenc tér metro / tram station. We passed by there numerous times and I took far too many photos of trams. The tram station is one end of lines 47, 48 and 49. There are two tracks so often there were two trams at the station, with another one waiting to come in.
This interesting control panel was mounted on the platform.
- Menetrendi = timetable
- Azonnali törlés = immediate closure
- Kizárás = exclusion
- Felszállóhely = boarding point
- Törlés = deletion
I imagine it controls the signals. It was set for “menetrendi” which I think means they were operating normally (according to timetable).
The tram network in Budapest is one of the world’s largest – covering 174 km (108 miles) – and has 35 lines as well as a rack railway. It began in 1866 as a horsecar line (cars towed by horses) using the metre gauge, but converted to standard gauge from 1889 around the same time they switched to electric power.
The trams on lines 47-49 seem to be CSMG tram cars (Csuklós Motorkocsi, Ganz, meaning “articulated motor coach, Ganz”) built by Ganz from 1970 to 1976.
I liked that one of the tram cars was decorated for Christmas!
The name Budapest comes from the names of the cities on each side of the Danube River – Buda on the west and Pest on the east. There are several bridges that cross the Danube, and trams cross on the Margit Hid (Margaret) bridge.
The two trams on the Margit Hid above are Siemens Combino Supra NF 12B trams, in six 9m segments. They were the longest passenger trams in the world when they were introduced in 2006, at 53.99m, although they have been superseded by the CAF Urbos 3 trams (also in Budapest) at 56m.
There are tram lines running parallel to the Danube, which makes for some nice photos.
The famous Széchenyi Lánchíd (“chain bridge”) is visible in the background, with the Halászbástya (Fishermen’s Bastion) lit up at extreme left.
The photo below is from a similar location, but the chain bridge was behind me. One of Viking’s river cruise ships is visible behind the big bus.
After we walked past Budapest’s famous parliament buildings, we stopped in a cafe to warm up and enjoy some coffee (my wife) and hot chocolate (me). I also enjoyed the many trams rolling past the window!
I really enjoyed the trams in Budapest.
Great series of pics and explanation. I loved Budapest especially the view at night at the top of the funicular.
Thanks.