Budapest’s Metro line 1 receives international recognition as an outstanding technical development
Metro Line 1 (M1 for short) is the oldest and most legendary underground in Budapest. It was the first underground railway of its kind not only in Budapest but on the entire continent. It is considered to be one of the greatest novelties of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, and now, it has become an official IEEE milestone.
IEEE Spectrum reports that Budapest’s vintage Metro line 1, the first of its kind in Europe, is now an IEEE Milestone. Unfortunately, the dedication ceremony, which was originally planned for 25 March at the Budapest Underground Railway Museum, was postponed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) is a British professional organisation of electronics, electrical, manufacturing, and Information Technology professionals. The organisation was founded in 1871. The organisation ceased to operate independently and became part of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) in 2006.
IEEE’s Milestone program recognises outstanding technical developments around the world.
It took a little less than two years to build M1, and it began operating in 1896. We are very proud that M1 is still being used today, over 120 years after its inauguration.
According to Peter Kadar, IEEE Senior Member and Milestone coordinator:
“The railway system influenced the construction and design of subways in Boston, Buenos Aires, Paris, and other cities around the globe.”
The Milestone plaque, which will be displayed at the entrance of the first station, summarises perfectly why this railway line was such a huge innovation at the time.
The plaque reads:
“In 1896 Budapest Metro Line No. 1 was inaugurated, the first underground railway designed specifically to use electric power, rather than adapted from steam-powered systems. It offered several innovative elements including bidirectional motor carriages, the “gooseneck chassis,” and electric lighting in the stations and carriages. This line’s design influenced later subway construction in Boston, Paris, Berlin, and other metropolitan areas worldwide.”
Source: https://spectrum.ieee.org/
2 Comments
Delightful and deserving of it’s recognition.
It’s loved by us in Budapest, Hungary and besides being a Historical building construction and operation, that still, all these years on, plays such an important integral role in our wonderful public transport system.
It’s just not one of our own National Treasures but truly an icon of Europe and to those who have interest in the building and construction of Metro Underground Rail Systems and Service, around the World.
It’s a bit disingenuous because the first electric underground railway was the City & South London Line which began operating in 1890. It had 6 stations and passed under the River Thames. To those familiar with the London Tube, this line is now part of the Northern line. The M1 was the first in mainland europe, but not the first on the continent of europe.