[ad_1]
The Budapest Metro is fifty years old, announces the recently unveiled commemorative plaque in the Deák tér underpass, although the dates are not correct at first glance.
It is well known that the M1 line was given each number because it was the first subway, not only here, but throughout the continent. Long bearing the name of the ruler Ferenc József underground tram It was inaugurated on May 2, 1896, under Andrássy Avenue, and was named in memory of the personal journey of the imperial and royal majesty a few days later. Although in london metropolitan, to which the entire transport sector owes its name, started a few years before our millennium specimen, was initially powered by steam, and received electric propulsion only after the already electric Hungarian underground system.
The first real and deep metro line was already registered in Hungary under the name M2 and in fact it was delivered to traffic for half a century, though not in December but in April. However, due to the spring epidemic, BKV postponed the celebration of the jubilee, trusting that sooner or later they can commemorate the beautiful round anniversary. However, his calculations were carried away by the coronavirus, so the rapid opening of the field under almost the grass was maintained so that they were not exhausted even from the current year.
Due to the color marking on the subway maps, the first train of the new line, called Piroska, left the site at 4:10 am on April 3, 1970, and there were so many people trying to test it, long, crowded lines meandered from Deák Square station. all the way to Bárczy István street.
The new building soon became a real attraction in Budapest. It was popularly visited by politicians and prominent people, if any high-ranking diplomat came to Hungary, they should have checked the subway. At least this was always proudly reported by the contemporary press, which in turn tried to listen to the fact that the optimistic and lively construction, the successful project, was certainly overshadowed by tragedies. In Astoria, for example, 200 cubic meters of earth was buried underneath a construction worker, breaking steel piles and shaking apartment buildings that towered over him, which did not even inform its residents of the emergency.
In addition to BKV, traffic lovers also commemorated the half century anniversary in many ways, from the Fortepan stereo recordings (one of which can be seen in our opening image), the special events of the Historical Transport Association Urban Public and the Hungarian Association. to its stamped commemorative card and envelope, from which the 1970 edition postage stamp also returns.
Subsequently, the M2 was followed by a more routine construction of the blue M3, whose current multi-stage renovation is constantly stirring spirits. Which is not surprising, given that this is the only line that carries more passengers per day than the main rail lines in the country. The memorandum of understanding between BKV and the Swietelsky Railway Technology building was established just before Christmas, on the basis of which
On January 11, 2021, the complete modernization of the tunnel can finally begin in the central section as well.
The contract, originally valued at HUF 48 billion, was developed by the public transport company with 9.1 billion (and a reserve of 5 percent) in order not to completely block work that had been stagnant for months. Therefore, the line section is expected to be commercialized in January 2023, which is in line with the cost accounting requirements of the EU-funded project.
In the case of the M3, only the green M4 caused more headaches, as the Alstom slippage proceedings had to be recovered in the Brussels budget. But like the dead, birthday is good or nothing, says the modified Pest lingo, so let’s hope the driverless front line doesn’t cause more harm to taxpayers and passengers.
Which is encouraging that Metro line 5 is already in planning. Furthermore, which only means connecting the north and south HÉV lines below the city, promises to be one of the largest investments in transport. Although there are no plans to be careful: for 50 years, after the first delivery, for example, sidewalks traveling at different speeds were foreseen for smaller distances, and it was planned to save the larger ones by placing express meters that stopped only at stations. main, every 3-5 kilometers. Interestingly, we could also say that BKV has already achieved this, when in the previous stage of renovation of the M3, after Deák tér, it was only possible to get off at Kálvin tér and then at the temporary terminal of Nagyvárad tér.
(Cover image: Blaha Lujza tér metro station in 1970. Photo: UVATERV / FORTEPAN)
[ad_2]
