Crisis: no more trolleys, much fewer trams in Hungary’s 2nd biggest city

Not only Hungarian households and universities struggle with the skyrocketing energy prices but also the local governments. Many of them made draconic cuts in the different service types they provide for their citizens from spas to public transport. The latest drastic decision came from Debrecen, Hungary’s second biggest city after Budapest, led by a Fidesz-KDNP coalition for decades. Below you may read the details.

The local transport company (DKV) announced drastic measures due to the soaring inflation and the growing energy and fuel prices. Some will enter into effect from 14 November concerning trams, trolleys and even buses in Debrecen. The changes concern almost every citizen living in the second biggest Hungarian municipality, iho.hu wrote.

The leadership of the Hungarian city where the German BMW Group plans to build the world’s first fossil-free plant decided on implementing drastic measures. According to the statement of the Debrecen transport company, fuel prices increased by 86 percent in 2021. Meanwhile, electricity will cost 2.5 times more in 2023 than in 2022. The company highlighted they would not dismiss their employees and most of the modifications in the public transport timetable do not concern peak periods.

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As part of cutting back energy consumption, from 14 November, they will reduce the frequency of two trams, five trolleys and 20 bus lines.

Trams

Debrecen will halve the number of trams commuting on lines 1 and 2 outside the peak periods. Scheduled headways will rise to 15 minutes on weekends.

Trolleys

From 14 November, the scheduled headways of all trolleys will be doubled outside business hours. Moreover, in the case of trolley nr 3, every second vehicle will run in a shortened route outside peak times. Furthermore, trolley number 3A will no longer commute from next Monday. Passengers may take buses nr 19, 22, 22Y, 24 and 24Y instead of the trolleys from mid-November.

Buses

The frequency will be reduced in the case of the buses at the weekends and outside peak periods.

January will mark the deathblow of Debrecen trolleys

From 1 January 2023, all trolleys in Debrecen will be shut down to save energy and electricity. That means a network running for 37.5 years will stop its operation next year. On the weekends, buses will replace both trams. On weekdays of school holidays, replacement buses will carry passengers between Doberdó utca–Kálvin tér–Doberdó utca (tram nr 2). But tram nr 1 will operate as usual.

Iho.hu writes that the trolley bus network of Debrecen may end its operation for good on 31 December.

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Source: iho.hu