Budapest’s public transport fleet has expanded once again, with the capital’s 38th CAF tram officially entering passenger service following an extensive testing and approval process.
The new vehicle, carrying fleet number 2294, completed around eight weeks of technical inspections, trial runs and regulatory approvals before receiving permission to transport passengers. The commissioning process included comprehensive technical checks, manufacturer and operator inspections, a mandatory 500-kilometre fault-free test run, and official certification by the relevant authorities.
The tram purchase is financed by the European Union and co-funded by the Hungarian state. The project has received HUF 54.15 billion (EUR-backed non-refundable funding).
More accessible and environmentally friendly public transport
The arrival of the new tram further strengthens Budapest’s growing fleet of modern low-floor vehicles, improving accessibility for passengers with reduced mobility, parents with pushchairs and travellers carrying luggage.
According to the Budapest Transport Centre (BKK), the ongoing fleet renewal programme aims to improve passenger comfort while making the city’s public transport system more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.
The Spanish manufacturer CAF will continue delivering additional trams over the coming months. Once all 51 vehicles have entered service, more than 40% of Budapest’s tram fleet will consist of low-floor vehicles, significantly improving accessibility across the network.
Several of the remaining trams are already undergoing various stages of testing and certification before entering passenger service.
Which tram lines will receive more CAF vehicles?
As more new trams arrive, Budapest plans to increase the number of low-floor vehicles on several routes where CAF trams already operate, including:
- Tram 1
- Tram 3
- Tram 17
- Tram 19
- Tram 42
- Tram 50
- Tram 56
- Tram 56A
- Tram 61
Following the commissioning of the fleet’s 100th tram earlier this year, only CAF trams now operate on lines 3 and 42. If planned infrastructure projects receive the necessary EU funding, modern CAF trams are also expected to appear on:
- Tram 2
- Tram 23
- Tram 24
- Tram 62
Meanwhile, additional low-floor vehicles could also be introduced on lines 14 and 69. BKK and public transport operator BKV are also assessing whether infrastructure upgrades would allow CAF trams to operate on lines 47 and 49 in the future.
Infrastructure upgrades remain essential
Introducing the new fleet requires significant investment in Budapest’s tram infrastructure. Planned developments include:
- upgrading the city’s electricity supply for the tram network;
- rebuilding sections of tram lines and terminal stations;
- expanding and modernising depots;
- improving platform accessibility;
- preparing maintenance facilities for the larger low-floor fleet.
BKK has already signed contracts to design the modernisation of the Ferencváros tram depot, while planning is also underway for upgrades to the Angyalföld and Száva depots. In addition, design work has begun for improvements to the terminal stations on tram line 24, paving the way for the future deployment of the new vehicles.
What this means for travellers
For both residents and visitors, Budapest’s expanding CAF fleet means a more comfortable and accessible travel experience. Low-floor trams make boarding much easier for tourists with suitcases, families with prams, wheelchair users and elderly passengers, while the newer vehicles also offer smoother rides, air-conditioned interiors and more spacious passenger areas.
As more CAF trams enter service over the coming months and years, travellers can expect a growing number of Budapest’s busiest tram routes to be operated by these modern vehicles, making it easier to explore the Hungarian capital using public transport.
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