:Budapest Metro
{{Short description|Rapid transit system of Budapest, Hungary}}
{{expand Hungarian|topic=transp|otherarticle=Budapesti metró|date=February 2023}}
{{more citations needed|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox Public transit
| box_width = auto
| name = Budapest Metro
| image = Budapest metro symbol.svg
| imagesize = 100px
| image2 = Budapest, M2 metró, Örs vezér tere, 42.jpg
| imagesize2 = 280px
| image3 = Budapest, M4 metró, Kálvin tér, 33.jpg
| imagesize3 = 280px
| caption3 = Top: Örs vezér tere, terminus of metro line M2
Bottom: Metro line M4, a driverless metro line
with real-time PIDS system at Kálvin tér,
transfer station to metro line M3
| native_name = Budapesti metró
| owner = Capital City of Budapest
| transit_type = Rapid transit
| lines = 4
| stations = 52
| annual_ridership = 382.6 million (2023){{cite web |url=https://www.ksh.hu/stadat_files/sza/en/sza0021.html |title=Urban passenger traffic in Hungary and Budapest by mode of transport |date=2021-08-18 |website= Hungarian Central Statistical Office |language=en |access-date=2021-09-14}}
| website = {{url|https://www.bkk.hu/en/|BKK Public Transport}}
| began_operation = {{start date and age|1896|05|02|df=y}}
| operator = Centre for Budapest Transport
Budapest Transport Ltd. (BKV)
| vehicles =
| system_length = {{convert|39.4|km|mi|1|abbr=on}}
| track_gauge = {{Track gauge|sg}}
(standard gauge)
| el =
| average_speed =
| top_speed = {{convert|80|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.swe.siemens.com/france/web/en/sts/projects/europe/hungary/Budapest%20line%204/Pages/budapest_line2.aspx|title=Siemens.com Budapest Line 4|accessdate=19 December 2022|archive-date=18 December 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121218001556/https://www.swe.siemens.com/france/web/en/sts/projects/europe/hungary/Budapest%20line%204/Pages/budapest_line2.aspx|url-status=dead}}
| map = {{Budapest Metro route diagram}}
| map_state = collapsed
| alt =
| caption =
| area served =
| line_number =
| start =
| end =
| chief_executive =
| character =
}}
The Budapest Metro ({{langx|hu|Budapesti metró}}, {{IPA|hu|ˈbudɒpɛʃti ˈmɛtroː|pron}}) is the rapid transit system in the Hungarian capital Budapest. Opened in 1896, it is the world's second oldest electrified underground railway after the City and South London Railway of 1890, now part of the London Underground, and the third oldest underground railway with multiple stations, after the originally steam-powered Metropolitan Railway, now part of the London Underground (1863), and the Mersey Railway, now part of Merseyrail in Liverpool (1886).{{cite web |last1=Jennifer Walker |title=Budapest M1: Inside continental Europe's oldest metro network |url=https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/budapest-m1-europe-oldest-metro-network/index.html |publisher=CNN |access-date=29 July 2019 |date=19 December 2018}}
Budapest's first line, Line 1, was completed in 1896.{{cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/news/156 |title=World Heritage Committee Inscribes 9 New Sites on the World Heritage List | website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091128082245/http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/156 |archive-date=November 28, 2009 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.bkv.hu/en/our_thematic_routes_with_/our_thematic_routes_with#mill%20underground |title=Our thematic route with... - Sightseeing along the line of Millennium Underground Railway |publisher= BKV Zrt. |access-date=2013-10-18}} The M1 line became an IEEE Milestone due to the radically new innovations in its era: "Among the railway's innovative elements were bidirectional tram cars; electric lighting in the subway stations and tram cars; and an overhead wire structure instead of a third-rail system for power."Budapest's Electric Underground Railway Is Still Running After More Than 120 Years [https://spectrum.ieee.org/budapests-electric-underground-railway-is-still-running-after-more-than-120-years] In 2002, the M1 line was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.{{cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/news/156|title=UNESCO World Heritage Centre – World Heritage Committee Inscribes 9 New Sites on the World Heritage List|author=UNESCO World Heritage Centre|publisher=whc.unesco.org|access-date=10 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091128082245/https://whc.unesco.org/en/news/156|archive-date=28 November 2009|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}
History
File:Mfavground.jpg at Heroes' Square]]
{{Infobox UNESCO World Heritage Site
| child =
| WHS =
| image = Siemens-Halske, Budapest metro museum.jpg
| image_upright = 1.2
| caption = Siemens-Halske, Budapest metro museum
| official_name = Andrássy Avenue and the Underground
| location = Budapest, Hungary
| part_of = Budapest, including the Banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter and Andrássy Avenue
| criteria = {{UNESCO WHS type|(ii), (iv)}}(ii), (iv)
| ID = 400bis-002
| coordinates = {{coord|47|29|19|N|19|5|13|E|format=dms}}
| year = 1987
| extension = 2002
| area = {{convert|57.85|ha|sqmi|abbr=on}}
| buffer_zone = {{convert|239.61|ha|sqmi|abbr=on}}
| website = https://www.bkv.hu/
| locmapin = Hungary#Budapest
| map_caption =
}}
To clarify where the first "metro" in continental Europe was built, a few distinctions must be made. While the original metro line M1 is the oldest electrified underground railway in continental Europe, it is not the oldest underground railway. Outside of the United Kingdom, the oldest fully underground urban railway in the world is the Tünel line in Istanbul, built in 1875.{{Cite web|url=https://www.civitatis.com/blog/en/10-oldest-subways-world/|title = The 10 Oldest Subways in the World|date = 12 December 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://iett.istanbul/icerik/Tunnel|title = History of Tünel|date = 12 December 2022}} However since Tünel is a funicular railway, it may or may not be considered a "metro", in the classic sense.{{Cite web|url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subway|title = Subway (Metro) definition|date = 12 December 2022}} Therefore, depending on one's definition of a metro, the Budapest Metro is either the oldest or 2nd oldest underground urban railway in continental Europe.
The original line M1 ("Földalatti", from Hungarian föld "earth, ground", alatt "under"; so "the underground") ran for 5 km from Vörösmarty tér to Széchenyi fürdő. Line M1 was inaugurated on 2 May 1896, the year of the millennium (the thousandth anniversary of the arrival of the Magyars), by emperor Franz Joseph.{{Cite web|url=https://dailynewshungary.com/first-underground-railway-europe-even-franz-joseph-used/|title = First underground railway of Europe was opened in Budapest – Photo gallery|date = 7 May 2017}} It was named "Franz Joseph Underground Electric Railway Company" ({{lang|hu|"Ferenc József Földalatti Villamos Vasút Rt."}}).
Works on line M2 started in the 1950s, although the first section did not open until 1970. It follows an east–west route, connecting the major Keleti (Eastern) and Déli (Southern) railway stations.
Planning for Metro Line 3 began in 1963 and construction started in 1970 with help of Soviet specialists.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}} The first section, consisting of six stations, opened in 1976. It was extended to the south in 1980 with five additional stations, and to the north in 1981, 1984, and 1990, with nine additional stations. With a length of approximately {{convert|16|km|mi}}Jennifer Walker. (19 December 2018). [https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/budapest-m1-europe-oldest-metro-network/index.html Budapest M1: Inside continental Europe's oldest metro network] CNN. Retrieved 19 December 2022 and a total of 20 stations, it is the longest line in Budapest.[https://hungarianfreepress.com/2016/05/17/russias-metrovagonmas-and-the-budapest-metro-refurbishment-a-curious-arrangement/ Russia’s Metrovagonmash and the Budapest metro refurbishment — A curious arrangement]
Construction of the fourth Metro line began in 2006.{{Cite web|url=https://www.intelligenttransport.com/transport-articles/9633/budapests-new-bus-service-framework/|title = Budapest's new bus service framework}} The line opened after several delays and budget overruns in May 2014.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tunneltalk.com/Hungary-20May2014-Budapest-inaugurates-controversial-Metro-Line-4.php|title = Budapest opens controversial Metro Line 4}}
Routes
The metro consists of four lines (M1–M4), each denoted by a different colour. M1 (yellow) runs from Mexikói út south-west towards the river. The M2 (red) line travels east–west through the city, crossing the Danube. The M3 (blue) runs in a broadly north–south alignment, interchanging with the three other lines. The M4 (green) line commences at Keleti pályaudvar and travels south-west, crossing the river, to terminate at Kelenföld vasútállomás.{{cite web|url=http://www.urbanrail.net/eu/hu/budapest/budapest.htm|title=Budapest|last=Robert Schwandl|publisher=UrbanRail.net|access-date=1 August 2019}}
{{See also|List of Budapest Metro stations}}
=Metro line M1=
File:Budapest, M1 metró, Opera, 4.jpg
Line M1 runs northeast from the city centre on the Pest side under Andrássy út to the Városliget, or City Park. Like line M3, it does not serve Buda. Metro line M1, the oldest of the metro lines operating in Budapest, has been in constant operation since 1896. In the 1980s and 1990s, the line underwent major reconstruction. During the construction of line M2, space needed to be made for its station at Deák Ferenc tér, as a result, M1's station at Deák Ferenc tér had to be rebuilt approximately 40 meters from the original station. Of its 11 stations currently served, eight are original and three were added during the reconstruction. The original appearance of the old stations has been preserved, and each station features displays of historical photographs and information. As part of the reconstruction, the Millennium Underground Museum in the old station at Deák Ferenc tér connected to the concourse.
There are plans for the future extension of the line in both directions.{{Cite news|url=https://bkk.hu/fejleszteseink/m1/ |title=M1-es metró korszerűsítése és meghosszabbítása - Budapesti Közlekedési Központ|work=Budapesti Közlekedési Központ|access-date=2017-10-01|language=hu-HU|df=dmy-all}}
=Metro line M2=
File:Budapest, 2-es metró, Keleti pályaudvar.jpg
Line M2 runs east–west from Déli pályaudvar in Buda's Krisztinaváros, through the city center, to Örs vezér tere in eastern Pest. It offers connections to Hungarian State Railways at Déli and Keleti pályaudvars, to metro lines M1 and M3 at Deák Ferenc tér, to M4 at Keleti pályaudvar, to suburban railway lines H8 and H9 at Örs vezér tere, and to suburban railway line H5 at Batthyány tér. Prior to the opening of M4, it was (for more than 45 years) the only metro line that served the Buda side of the city.
Metro Line 2 underwent a major reconstruction in the second half of the 2000s, with all of the track replaced and stations revamped by 2007. The entire fleet of Metrovagonmash 81-717/81-714 and Ev/EvA carriages operating on the line were replaced with Alstom Metropolis metro cars by 2013.{{cite web | url=https://www.railjournal.com/passenger/metros/alstom-hands-over-first-budapest-metropolis-train | title=Alstom hands over first Budapest Metropolis train | date=12 July 2012 }}
Planning of a direct connection of line M2 and the suburban railway lines with a shared new station at Örs vezér tere and the addition of a potential new underground station near Hungexpo Budapest Congress and Exhibition Center, offering another interchange point to mainline railways began in 2021.János Król. (17 November 2021). [https://innorail2021.hu/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Janos-KROL_Interconnecting-M2-metro-and-H8-H9-HEV-suburban-lines.pdf Interconnecting M2 metro and H8-H9 HÉV suburban lines] Retrieved 8 December 2022
=Metro line M3=
File:Budapest, M3 metró, Nagyvárad tér, 51.jpg - Nagyvárad tér station (originally opened in 1976, reconstructed 2022-2023) ]]
Line M3 runs in a north–south direction (more exactly, from north-northeast to southeast) on the Pest side of the river and connects several populous residential areas with the Inner City.Budapest City Atlas, Dimap-Szarvas, Budapest, 2011, {{ISBN|978-963-03-9124-5}} It has a transfer station with line M1 and line M2 at Deák Ferenc tér, and an interchange with line M4 at Kálvin tér. It is the longest line in the Budapest metro system, its daily ridership is estimated at 610,000.{{Cite web|url=https://www.metro4.hu/hu/hogyan-mukodik/a-4-metrovonal-osszehasonlitasa|title=A 4 metróvonal összehasonlítása |work=Metro 4|access-date=19 December 2022}} A semi-automatic train drive system was introduced in 1990.{{Cite web|url=https://www.railjournal.com/passenger/metros/budapest-metro-line-3-reconstruction-enters-final-phase/|title = Budapest metro Line 3 reconstruction enters final phase|date = 9 November 2020}} A complete renovation of the line started in 2017. The upgrades included reconstructing the stations, rebuilding the track, safety equipment, ventilation and tunnel insulation. Design works were entirely funded by the European Union under the New Széchenyi Plan. The project also included the renovation of the rolling stock and a possible extension of the metro line to Káposztásmegyer.{{cite web |title=Megjelent az M3-as metróvonal rekonstrukciójának tervezésére kiírt pályázat |url=https://bkk.hu/hirek/megjelent-az-m3-as-metrovonal-rekonstrukciojanak-tervezesere-kiirt-palyazat.2345/ |website=Budapesti Közlekedési Központ |access-date=1 June 2021 |date=25 July 2013}} The renovation finished in May 2023, with the opening of Nagyvárad tér and Lehel tér stations.{{Cite web|url=http://m3felujitas.hu/en/node/741|title = Three reconstructed stations opened on the central section of metro line M3}}
=Metro line M4=
File:Budapest, M4 metró, Fővám tér.jpg
Line M4 runs southwest–northeast from Kelenföld vasútállomás in Buda's Kelenföld neighborhood to Keleti Railway Station in Józsefváros. With a length of {{convert|7.4|km}}, it connects to Hungarian State Railways at its termini, to the metro line M3 at Kálvin tér, and to line M2 at Keleti pályaudvar. Line M4 was completed in March 2014 and comprises ten stations.{{cite web|url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/urban/single-view/view/automated-metro-line-m4-opens-in-budapest.html|title=Automated metro Line M4 opens in Budapest|date=28 March 2014|publisher=Railway Gazette|access-date=9 April 2015}}
Future expansion
=Metro line M5=
File:Budapest_Metro_5.PNG; the red lines are the proposed connections under the city to form line M5; and the blue lines are existing railway lines that could also be connected]]
Metro line M5 is a proposed north–south railway tunnel to connect the currently separated elements of the suburban rail network, namely the H5, H6 and H7 suburban railway lines, and optionally the Budapest-Esztergom and Budapest-Kunszentmiklós-Tass railway lines. Currently the project does not have mainstream political support, only included in long-term plans. The first phase (planned until 2030){{Cite web|url=https://bkk.hu/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/BMT.pdf|title=Balázs Mór plan, long term service development plans of the BKK|accessdate=19 December 2022}} would be the extension and connection of the southern H6 and H7 lines to Astoria metro station via Kálvin tér, thus connecting these lines to metro lines M2, M3 and M4. The second phase would create a connection to metro line M1 as well at Oktogon, M3 at Lehel tér then cross the Danube to the Buda side to connect suburban railway line H5 towards Szentendre.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}}
Rolling stock
File:Budapest, M1 metró, Mexikói út, 22.jpg|Ganz MFAV – operating on line M1 since 1973
File:Budapest, M4 metró, járműtelep, Alstom AM4-M4, 34.jpg|Alstom Metropolis – operating on line M2 since 2012 and on line M4 since its opening in 2014
File:Budapest, M3 metró, Árpád híd, kihúzó.jpg|Metrowagonmash 81-717.2K/714.2K – refurbished versions of the old carriages that ran on lines M2 and M3; operating on line M3 since 2017
General information
=Tickets and transfer system=
The usual BKK tickets and passes can be used on all lines. Single tickets can be re-used when changing metro lines.{{Cite web|url=https://bkk.hu/en/tickets-and-passes/prices/|title = Types and prices}}
There are plans for an automated fare collection system.[https://tldr.444.hu/2018/03/12/mar-milliardokert-uzemeltetjuk-budapesten-az-elektronikus-jegyrendszert-holott-meg-el-sem-keszult Már milliárdokért üzemeltetjük Budapesten az elektronikus jegyrendszert, holott még el sem készült] 444. 12 March 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2022. {{in lang|hu}} A contract for a system was signed in 2014,{{cite web| url=https://bkk.hu/en/2014/10/budapest-signed-the-contract-agreement-for-the-automated-fare-collection-system/|title=Budapest signed the Contract Agreement for the Automated Fare Collection system|date=8 October 2014|publisher=BKK Zrt|access-date=24 October 2014}} but terminated in 2018 without completion.Hutter Marianna. (29 November 2018). [https://azonnali.hu/cikk/20181129_elektronikus-jegyrendszer-felmondta-a-bkk-a-beszallitoi-szerzodest Elektronikus jegyrendszer: felmondta a BKK a szállítói szerződést] azonnalı. Retrieved 8 December 2022 {{in lang|hu}} The Budapest Pay&GO system, that was introduced on bus line 100E in June 2023, is planned to begin a test phase on line M1.
Starting 1st March 2024, free public transport has been extended for children up to 14 years, and for people 65 years or older including non-Hungarian citizens.{{cite web | url=https://www.szegedify.com/hungary-news/2024/3/1/new-tariff-system-in-hungarian-public-transport-from-today | title=New tariff system in Hungarian public transport from today │ Szegedify }}
In popular culture
The internationally acclaimed 2003 Hungarian thriller Kontroll is set and was filmed in the metro system on the line M3.
Network map
{{Rapid transit OSM map
| system_qid = Q211044
| frame-lat = 47.5
| frame-long = 19.05
| frame-width = 750
| frame-height = 470
| zoom = 11
| length = yes
}}
See also
{{Portal|Trains|Hungary}}
Notes
{{reflist|group="Note"}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
{{Commons category|Metro (Budapest)}}
- [https://metromapworld.com/budapest-metro-map/ Budapest Metro Map 2016–17 on Google earth with geolocation]
- [https://bkk.hu/en/ BKK Zrt. – official website]
- [https://trackmap.ru/img/tm_budapest.png Budapest Metro Track map]
- [http://www.urbanrail.net/eu/hu/budapest/budapest.htm Budapest at UrbanRail.net]
- [https://www.metrolinemap.com/metro/budapest/ Budapest Metro Map]
{{Budapest}}
{{Budapest Metro}}
{{Public transport in Budapest}}
{{Underground rapid transit in the European Union}}
Category:1896 establishments in Hungary
Category:Railway lines opened in 1896