World's Longest Trams in Budapest (2017)

Description

In Budapest, there are the world's longest trams. How long are they?

In the video:
4:40 Ganz CSMG / KCSV-7
6:58 Düwag / LHB TW6000
8:50 Siemens Combino Supra
12:00 ČKKD Tatra T5C5
14:35 CAF Urbos 3
14:50 World's Longest Tram

Welcome to Budapest. In this episode, we'll explore the tram network in this large city. I invite you to watch. So far, we haven't shared much about the city itself. As you know, Budapest is the capital of Hungary. About one in six residents of the country live there, totaling around 1.76 million people. This is quite similar to the population of Warsaw. Both cities have been competing in recent years in this regard. Historically, Budapest was founded in the 19th century through the merger of three cities: Buda and Obuda on the right bank of the Danube, and Pest on the left. One part of the city lies on the plain, while the other is on the hills, adding to its diversity. The Pöivo, which connected Budapest, also had a tram service in Buda and Pest, launched several years before the merger. Trams have been in use here for over 150 years. This event happened in 1866, the same year, but a few months earlier than in Warsaw. The network is about 150 km long. It’s a few kilometers longer than Prague's, but much shorter than Berlin's. Trams serve most of the city, covering 19 of the 23 districts. The NER 60 rack-and-pinion railway is also part of the network; however, I will show you which one in a separate section. The network features distinctive half-ring tram routes that encircle the city. In Budapest, bidirectional trams are standard. The entire city relies on vehicles with two driver's cabs and doors on both sides of the train. Other types are not used here. Using unidirectional vehicles would be nearly impossible because most tram terminuses end in cul-de-sacs and crossings where the tracks change direction. Crossings, also known as billboards, are strategically placed throughout the tram network to minimize disruptions to car traffic. Interestingly, when parking at the end of the line is full, additional platforms are used, located before the actual end of the line. We'll start our overview of the rolling stock and lines with tram number 2. This route is considered one of the most scenic in Europe from a tourist perspective, thanks to its ride along the Danube River and its proximity to the Hungarian Parliament Building. From the deck of a classic Ganz tram, we enjoy views of Budapest's bridges, buildings, and the hills on the Buda side. For most of the day, the two-car lines run every five minutes, and during rush hours, they're even more frequent, with departures every two to three minutes. Ganz trams were built in the 1960s and 1970s, with some rebuilt in the 1990s. This tram has three sections and a high-floor design. These trams are iconic in Budapest and are often seen speeding along the Danube embankments and the Liberty Bridge. They are 26 meters long. No. M2. The district of high-rise buildings, located away from downtown, can be seen from the window of tram number 69. This line typically acts as a feeder, providing the direct route to the first metro line. It is also the only rail line reaching Újpálotá, although other parts of the city are usually reached by bus. To keep its aging fleet running, the operator is buying used trams that were taken out of service in Hanover. German Marek Duwak and LHB trams are designed to serve both high and low platforms. In Budapest, only low platforms are available, so to serve these stops, automatically unfolding steps are installed in all tram doors. These trams are 28 meters long. One of the busiest routes is the half-ring formed by lines 4 and 6. They run along a stretch called the Grand Boulevard, which forms Budapest's downtown ring. Small barriers are placed along the route to prevent cars from entering the tracks. An interesting stop along this route is Margaret Bridge, with a stop in its center—lines 4 and 6 run every two minutes on their shared section during peak hours. Line 6 is also the only tram operating 24 hours a day. Lines 4 and 6 are operated entirely with Zemens Combino trams. These are very long, measuring 54 meters in length. They consist of six cars, each with eight doors on each side. These were Budapest’s first all low-floor trams. The city has a total of 40 of these, each capable of carrying up to 350 passengers. This change affects Budapest's second tram route, which includes Line 1. The dedicated track is in the middle of the two carriageways of the road, which mostly has three lanes on each side. The route crosses the Danube twice, covering a distance of over 16 km in 47 minutes. The track used by line 1 is not shared with other lines on any section.

Stops

Jászai Mari tér → Közvágóhíd H → Március 15. tér → Kossuth Lajos tér M → Haller utca/Soroksári út → Bécsi útca/Vörösvári útca → Kamaraerdei Ifjúsági Park → Szent Gellért tér-Műegyetem M → Clark Ádám tér → Deák Ferenc tér → Városház tér → Fővám tér M → Gárdonyi tér → Kelenföld vasútállomás M → Móricz Zsigmond körtér → Hűvösvölgy.

19:52