The fleet of Siemens Combino trams, operated by the BKV transport company in Budapest, is celebrating 20 years since it entered service. The first vehicle arrived in the Hungarian capital on March 14, 2006, and entered service on July 1, 2006, on lines 4 and 6, some of the busiest tram lines in Europe.
Over the past two decades of operation, Combino trams have carried over two billion passengers and accumulated nearly 7 million hours of service.
A fleet that has covered impressive distances
According to BKV, Combino trams have collectively traveled a distance equivalent to 125 times the distance between Earth and the Moon.
If they had traveled in a straight line, these trams could have even made approximately 1,500 round trips to the International Space Station.
Budapest’s first low-floor trams
At the time of their introduction, Combino trams represented a major change for public transportation in Budapest.
At 54 meters long, they were the longest trams in the city, and their interior design allowed passengers to move freely along the entire length of the vehicle.
In addition, they were the first low-floor trams in the Hungarian capital, which improved accessibility for people with reduced mobility, parents with strollers, or passengers with luggage.
Their introduction also required infrastructure upgrades: several platforms were rebuilt, work was carried out on the power supply system, and the Hungária depot was modernized to accommodate the new vehicles.
40 trams in service
The Combino fleet was gradually expanded to 40 vehicles, with the last tram delivered in May 2007.
Currently, the trams run daily on lines 4 and 6, some of the busiest tram lines in Europe, carrying over 300,000 passengers per day.
Since 2011, Line 6 has been operating non-stop, with Combino trams running even at night.
Anniversary events
To mark the anniversary, BKV has applied a special livery to the first tram in the series, which will run on the city’s ring road throughout the year.
The company will also host an open house at the Hungária depot on June 13, where visitors can take guided tours and learn more about the history of Combino trams in Budapest.
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