Budapest has a very impressive tram system with over 50 tram lines numbered from 2A to 69.
This tram type with two drivers' cabs and doors on both sides is a very typical Budapest tram. It's called type CSMG-2. They were built
by Ganz in Hungary since 1970, so they are already fairly old. There were originally 85 of these trams and some 30 or so are left by now.
The first CSMG trams entered service already in 1965 and they were the first articulated trams made in Hungary.
It's a 26 metres long high floor traditional tram. Picture 15.1.2018 by Ilpo Ruissalo.
Another view of a Ganz CSMG-2 tram, now on line 49. This is still one of the non-modernised ones which have
been in use since 1970.
Picture 15.1.2018 by Ilpo Ruissalo.
This one used to be called also a Ganz CSMG-2 tram, but now after the latest modernisation the type is called Ganz-Hunslet KCSV7. The tram was
originally built by Ganz already in 1969 and it has been refurbished several times.
The tram behind it is a former Hannover tram of the type TW 6000 bought used from Germany.
Picture from the tram line end station at Festetics György Ulitsa in Budapest 14.3.2023 by Markku Salo.
Almost all Eastern Block socialist countries used to be full of these Tatra trams. These two are of the type
Tatra T5C5K, with two drivers' cabs and doors on both sides. Notice how this tram pair has been photographed from behind, but still it
looks like there's a front towards the photographer. Budapest had over 450 Tatra trams and out of these 158 are of this newer subtype
T5C5K. They were built since 2002 by ČKD Tatra in Prague, Czech Republic. This is a modernised tram. Originally they were of the type
Tatra T5C5. Between 1978 and 1984, 322 vehicles were supplied to Budapest and over 100 are still in use. These two are of the modernised
type T5C5K which still looks like the old Tatras, but inside is a modern thyristor controlled tram.
Picture 15.1.2018 by Ilpo Ruissalo.
These Spanish CAF Urbos 3 trams are the newest trams in Budapest. There are 35 of them in the shorter
variant like this no.2201 and then there are 12 longer ones. They have been built 2014-2016 and were taken in use since 2015.
Picture 15.1.2018 by Ilpo Ruissalo.
Towards the end of the 1950s communist Hungary and especially the city of Budapest desperately needed bigger trams
due to vastly increased numbers of passengers. The answer was this. It copied the idea of what in East Germany had been built and what there was
nicknamed "two rooms and a kitchen". Technically this was not different from the old two axle trams of the 1910s, except that there was a small
middle piece without axles. But of course it could take much more passengers. The technology was taken out of old scrapped trams of the 1910s.
These got the nickname "The roaring Bengali". It was introduced in 1961. Benga means really big in Hungarian slang and due to its very old
technology the tram was very loud, roaring like a Bengalese tiger. This one is a museum heritage tram.
Picture from Budapest Közvágóhíd 12.5.2024 by Teemu Collin.
