Spectacular Budapest tram line resumes but some popular parks and a beach remain closed

Budapest tram line nr 2, one the world’s most spectacular public transport lines, has become fully operational again since today dawn. Almost all restrictions have been abolished this week after the peaking of the Danube flood, but some popular Budapest parks will remain closed to the public until next week.

Budapest tram line nr 2 is back in service on the entire line

According to index.hu, trams 2, 2B and 23 commute again on their entire line, since authorities could pump the floodwater from the tunnels yesterday. Consequently, tram nr 2 carries passengers again between the Jászai Mari Square and the Közvágóhíd suburban railway (HÉV) stations. Tram line 2B operates again between Jászai Mari Square and Pesterzsébet, Pacsirtatelep, while you can use tram nr 23 between Jászai Mari Square and the Keleti railway station.

Earlier this week, authorities reopened the M2 metro station of Batthyány Square, suburban railway H5 begins its journey to Szentendre from Batthyány Square, and the Danube embankments were reopened yesterday. Moreover, bikers can use the lanes near the River Danube on the Buda sides, including the underpasses at Clark Ádám Square and the Margaret Bridge.

As Mayor Gergely Karácsony wrote before, the reopenings were preceded by thorough cleaning since the floodwater carried bacteria potentially causing life-threatening diseases like diarrhoea and sepsis.

Driftwood cleaning in Budapest. Photo: FB/Karácsony

Some restrictions concerning popular parks remain in effect

However, some traffic restrictions remain in effect. For example, trams 4 and 6 will not stop at Margaret Island station. Furthermore, buses nr 26 and 226 will not commute because the island is closed to traffic. Buses 34 and 934 will not touch several stations on Emőd Street, Királyok Street and Pünkösdfürdő Street, BKK wrote.

The Margaret Island, the Hajógyári Island, and the Népsziget, all north of the Margaret Bridge, will remain closed to passengers and pedestrians, as well. MOL Bubi public bikes cannot be used at Margaret Island, Hajós Alfréd Swimming Pool, Palatinus Beach, and the Music Fountain stations. Of course, Palatinus Beach also remains closed.

PHOTOS: No more sandbags needed on Margaret Island but the place remains closed to the public this week:

According to infostart.hu, Margaret Island, Óbuda Island and Római Beach will reopen to the public next week. The reason is that the ground is too wet and there is a risk that some trees out of the more than 7,000 (weighing 10-20-30 tonnes each) may come down. Therefore, we have to wait until it dries out completely. According to meteorologists, strong winds are expected in the next few days when the canopies of the trees act like sails.

Margaret Island, a green oasis in the downtown. Photo: Creative Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Sándor Bardóczi, the Chief Landscape Architect of Budapest, said no trees have come down yet on Margaret Island, but that is not true for Római Beach, so we should be careful. Authorities will not open the beach and the Óbuda Island to the public until the ground gets dry enough. Mr Bardóczi said the islands might reopen next week, but the experts of Főkert will decide on the issue.

Read also:

• Hungary’s busiest motorways to Austria, Lake Balaton to become 4-lane – read more HERE
• Good news for drivers: Danube embankments reopened in Budapest – PHOTOS