Budapest has taken delivery of its 26th new CAF tram and officially put it into passenger service following successful test runs and regulatory approval, the Budapest Transport Centre (BKK) announced on Thursday. The newly commissioned vehicle will primarily operate on tram line 3.

According to BKK, tram production and delivery will continue throughout the year, followed by certification and gradual entry into service. The new vehicle is part of a previously ordered fleet of 51 CAF trams that are currently under construction.

As the Spanish manufacturer continues to hand over new vehicles, the share of low-floor trams in Budapest’s fleet is expected to exceed 40 per cent. These modern trams are fully accessible, air-conditioned and designed to improve passenger comfort, equal access and environmentally friendly, energy-efficient urban transport.

The procurement of the CAF trams is being financed with support from the European Union and co-financing from the Hungarian state.

BKK noted that the ongoing renewal of the vehicle fleet allows an increasing number of low-floor trams to operate on lines where they are already present. As a result, more CAF trams are expected to appear on lines 1, 3, 17, 19, 42, 50, 56, 56A and 61.

Plans also include introducing modern trams on lines 2, 23, 24 and 62, as well as adding further low-floor vehicles to lines 14 and 69. In addition, the feasibility of deploying CAF trams on lines 47 and 49 is currently being examined, subject to infrastructure conditions.

BKK emphasized that accommodating the new vehicles and further modernizing the tram network requires significant infrastructure upgrades, including power supply improvements, reconstruction of some terminals and the construction of new platforms. While EU funding for these developments is not yet available, the city remains committed to carrying out the necessary investments.

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