Big change in Budapest transport: no Nyugati overpass, tram on Bajcsy-Zsilinszky Avenue?

Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony announced on Tuesday that the forthcoming tram line connecting Budapest’s eleventh and fourth districts would mark “the most significant traffic development project in years to come”.

Addressing the project launch, the mayor noted that trams were a key plank of Budapest’s public transport system compared with other European cities. “We are still unsatisfied and want to make further developments,” he added.

Karácsony said that the new line and other parts of the project co-financed by the European Union will link parts of the city that already have a metro service, but the route require high-capacity services above ground.

As part of the Revitalising Avenues program, the inner sections of Bajcsy-Zsilinszky Avenue and Váci Avenue will undergo a makeover, with Nyugati Square set for a complete redevelopment. Plans include the removal of the current overpass at the junction, aimed at creating a more inviting and spacious urban area.

The proposed changes aim to maintain the square’s throughput capacity while allowing traffic to cross the Great Boulevard at ground level. The introduction of high-capacity trams is expected to significantly improve commuting experiences, ensuring quicker and more comfortable journeys for passengers. Additionally, the redesigned area will serve a broader purpose, potentially transforming Nyugati Square into a vibrant and functional urban public space for Budapest residents.

Karácsony emphasised the positive impact of the new trams, asserting that they would enable “many more people to reach their destination faster and more comfortably than now.”

Following the dispute between the Budapest municipality and the Hungarian government, passengers stand to benefit from Hungary’s new and improved public transport fee system, offering clarity on prices and passes.

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