Heading to the Budapest FINA World Championships by boat? For sure!

The 17th FINA World Championships will be an aquatic event in every respect. The Danube, playing a key role in the city’s daily operation will be an important element during the event, as well. Dedicated boat service will be available to serve the needs of fans and officials alike.

The greatest event in the history of Budapest (and Hungary) will be conducted successfully as a result of extensive and coordinated work of organising. City life in those two weeks will be determined fundamentally by the 17th FINA World Championships.

Transport and traffic in the city will also be affected by the thousands of athletes and their attendants, FINA family, media representatives, as most of all fans visiting Budapest. Providing proper transport services to these people is the demand and expectation of all of us, including those driving cars in the city and inhabitants using the means of public transport alike.

In fact, in addition to dedicated bus and car services boats will be available for transport during the World Championships.

Public boat service

The Centre for Budapest Transport (BKK) runs regular boat services (regardless of the World Champs, also). Boat D11 and D12 stop by Duna Arena, the key venue of the Championships located in Népfürdő street. D11 departs from Kopaszi gát and heads to Újpest, Árpád street while D12 operated between Kopaszi gát and Rómaifürdő every 70mins in the summer season.

These services stop by several important sites of the World Championships (D 12 stops at Margaret Island, Centenárium station) so the venues are easily accessible by public transport.

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Dedicated services during the World Championships

In addition to the 2 boat lines indicated above Bp2017 Nonprofit LLC (in charge of organising and conducting the event) collaborating with MAHART provides for dedicated boat services as well.

According to preliminary assessment approximately 10% of spectators attending the venues of the World Championships will use boat services (the majority of them, around 70% will probably use means of public transport).

There will be two lines provided for spectators. One of them, a direct line will depart from the Palace of Arts (MÜPA) and terminate at Duna Arena. The other one will run between Szent Gellért square and Duna Arena stopping at each station in between.

Dedicated stations include the followings (stations of the direct line in italics):

– Duna Arena
– Dráva street (connection to City Park venues)
– Margaret Island, Centenary monument (Hajós Alfréd National Swimming Stadium)
– Batthyány square
– Várkert Bazár
– Vigadó square
– Szent Gellért square (World Champs parking)
– Palace of Arts (World Champs parking)

In line with spectators’ boat services there will be two parking areas (with a capacity of 150 places each) established on the Pest side by the Palace of Arts (adjacent to Lágymányosi Bridge) and on the Buda side by Szent Gellért square.

The transport concept regulating boat services was intended to include touristic hubs, also the 2 lines shall be in line with the public transport network operated by the Centre for Budapest Transport. The 2 lines will have the total capacity of 1250 passengers per hour.

Spectators’ dedicated boat services can only be used by showing their official World Championships entry tickets.

Travel time between the Palace of Arts and Duna Arena is 54 mins in the direction of the Palace of Arts, the way back takes 40 mins. Travel time from Szent Gellért square to Duna Arena is 39 mins (return trip is 29 mins), boats will run every 30 mins.

Other dedicated boat services

Between downtown hotels and competition venues

In addition to dedicated buses running every hour between downtown hotels and competition venues (Margaret Island, Duna Arena) there will be dedicated boat services every hour for FINA officials, partners and VIP guests.

Travel time from Vigadó square is 33 mins, from Duna Arena it is 24 mins.

For media representatives

Media representatives attending the World Championships can use the dedicated boat service between Duna Arena and Margaret Island. It takes 15 mins, departure times (every 30 or 40 mins) are still under negotiation by organisers and MAHART representatives.

Photos: Szilvia Őszi

Source: fina-budapest2017.com