The festive light trams and buses of the Budapest Transport Company (BKV) set off on the late afternoon of Friday, with the light fleet inaugurated by Mayor Gergely Karácsony. Many curious families gathered to witness the spectacle.
Against the backdrop of the festively adorned vehicles, Mayor Karácsony noted that
Budapest is perhaps the most tram-friendly city globally,
emphasizing that there is no other major city in the world where trams serve the public to such a significant extent. He expressed the desire to reinstate the previously operational but discontinued tram networks.
The mayor expressed his admiration for the light fleet, noting that the embellishment of the vehicles is a grassroots initiative. He described it as a ‘particularly dear gift to the city’ since he is aware of the voluntary effort invested by the employees of BKV in the decoration process. Mayor Karácsony extended his gratitude to the employees of BKV for their continuous service to Budapest throughout the year.
Tibor Bolla, the CEO of BKV explained that due to the economic crisis, the light fleet was not launched in 2022. Through cost-cutting measures, the company saved approximately three billion forints, enabling them to re-launch the decorated trams and buses this year.
Bolla revealed that the light fleet vehicles are adorned with more than five kilometres of LED lights, incorporating 140,000 LED bulbs. Additionally, 150 crocheted decorations, contributed by a passenger, were also placed in celebration of Budapest’s 150th birthday.
The light fleet consists of two buses and six trams, along with a decorated vehicle set to debut on the cogwheel line on 10 December.
As mentioned in the press conference, the first festive light tram set off from Jászai Mari Square fourteen years ago, operating on Line 2. According to the official statement released by BKV,
the light fleet will operate until 7 January.
The ‘flagship’ of the light fleet, the classic light tram Ganz UV, which has been in operation since 2009, is accompanied by outdoor LED strips and fairy lights on a KCSV-7, a TW6000 (Hannover), a T5C5K2 (Tatra), an ICS (Ganz), and a Combino tram, as on two buses. More than a hundred volunteers participated in decorating the vehicles in the depots over the past few weeks.
Notably, the power collectors on the KCSV-7, Tatra, and Ganz trams received festive lighting. Decorations were also placed in the interiors of several vehicles. For the first time this year, two buses have been adorned with festive lights: alongside decals, outdoor, waterproof 24-volt LED strips were placed on the two buses.
BKV emphasized that the light fleet covers almost the entire city, and passengers can travel on these vehicles at regular fares.
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