New Budapest bus line gives commuters a faster link to downtown Budapest!
A brand-new express bus service, the 223E, will start operating from Saturday, offering a fast, frequent and reliable connection between Pesterzsébet and the city centre, Budapest transport company BKK announced on Friday.
According to the statement, the new service aims to give residents a more comfortable journey with up to ten minutes shorter travel time and no transfers on the way to downtown Budapest, as well as to the M3 and M4 metro lines.
BKK said the new 223E line provides a cost-efficient and attractive public transport alternative for people living in the outer districts. Thanks to the development, more than 60,000 residents of South Pest and Pesterzsébet will be able to reach the city centre more quickly, comfortably and predictably.
Extended route to Kálvin tér
As part of the improvement, the 223E will no longer terminate at Boráros tér. Instead, it will continue its route via Közraktár Street, Fővám Square and Vámház Boulevard, ending at Kálvin Square. From Kálvin Square, the bus will return to Pesterzsébet along Üllői Road, Ferenc Boulevard and Boráros Square.
BKK has also created a new bus lane between Boráros Square and Bakáts Street to ensure a faster journey. In addition, new, more comfortable stops are being installed along the inner-city section, including at Kálvin Square and Ferenc Boulevard.
More frequent service and longer operating hours
On weekdays, the 223E will run more frequently: every 4–6 minutes during peak hours and every 10 minutes during the day. Its operating hours have also been extended: from now on, the service will run daily from around 4:30 AM until 11:50 PM.
BKK added that in the future, more express routes based on the same model may be launched from other outer districts, offering simple, predictable and environmentally friendly transport options for Budapest residents.
Mayor Karácsony: Wage agreement reached for Budapest public service workers
Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony announced on Friday that a wage agreement has been reached with trade unions representing employees of the “Budapest family” of municipal institutions and companies.
According to his statement, the implementation of the agreement now depends on two conditions: the government must honour its promise to pay what it owes the city, and the Budapest General Assembly must approve next year’s budget.
The agreement includes an average gross wage increase of 8.6% for 2026, assuming 3.6% inflation based on government projections. Due to inflation this year being higher than initially forecast, a further 0.6% of the wage bill will be paid out in the second half of 2026 from savings in the wage budget.
The full introduction of the Budapest allowance (a supplement paid to municipal employees) will also continue across all municipal institutions and companies.
Karácsony emphasised:
“Budapest is committed to valuing its workers, and we will not compromise on this. Safety and fair wages are owed to those who keep this city running.”
He added that fulfilling the agreement in full requires approval of the city’s budget, and that the city must legally close its financial year: something that, he said, will only be possible if the government finally transfers the funds it owes Budapest.