Normal traffic gradually resumes in Budapest: here is what you should know – UPDATED

The Budapest Transport Centre (BKK) published a statement on how ordinary traffic would resume in Budapest after the flood was over and the Danube receded.

Normal traffic again

According to their announcement, more and more BKK lines will return to normal schedules as the water level of the Danube decreases. From Wednesday dawn, suburban railway line H5 (Budapest-Szentendre) is back in service on the entire line. That means you may get on the trains at Battyány Square, which authorities closed last week due to the rising water level. The metro station reopened on Monday.

Photo: BKK/FB

Passengers travelling from Szentendre can change to metro line M2 at the Battyány Square station. Moreover, BKK will reopen the bike lane between the Margaret Bridge and the Batthyány Square. Therefore, bikers can ride near the River Danube again.

One of the world’s most beautiful tram lines may reopen this week

From 26 September, after finishing the necessary cleaning work, BKK will open the lower embankments on both sides of the capital. Drivers will be able to occupy those roads on Thursday morning. BKK highlighted that all reopenings are preceded by thorough inspection and cleaning because the floodwater left a huge amount of waste and bacteria that may cause dangerous, even lethal diseases.

The lower embankment of Buda is already dry. Photo: FB/BKK

Authorities are still pumping water in a segment of tram line nr 2, regularly chosen among the world’s most beautiful lines. However, experts believe they can reopen the entire line to the public on Friday or Saturday. Currently, trams only commute between the Jászai Mari Square and the Hungarian Parliament, a 15-minute-long segment even by foot.

Tram 2, Budapest. Photo: Facebook, BKK

UPDATE: Mayor Karácsony: 150 people work on cleaning Budapest

According to a recent Facebook post by Budapest’s mayor, Gergely Karácsony, 150 people are cleaning Budapest with 33 machines. They cleared 20 tonnes of driftwood and mud from the roads only yesterday. He wrote they would use the wood collected to generate energy. The dried sand of the more than 520 thousand sandbags will be used in construction.

A huge driftwood:

He added that the BKV would start to clean the boats and piers from today.

The employees of Főkert will check the Római Beach, the Óbuda and Margaret Islands. One of their main concerns will be the examination of the trees. Authorities will reopen these spaces only when they can guarantee the maximum safety possible. He said 80% of the plants on the wharves survived the flood.

Photo: FB/Karácsony

Read also:

• Danube recedes, cleaning started in Budapest – read more and check out the photos HERE
• Best and worst metro systems of Europe ranked, Budapest takes a surprising spot