BHÉV
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| 250px | |||
| Overview | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Owner | BKV (public ownership) | ||
| Locale | Budapest metropolitan area, Hungary | ||
| Transit type | Commuter rail/ rapid transit | ||
| Number of lines | 4 (+1 side line) | ||
| Number of stations | 81 | ||
| Operation | |||
| Operator(s) | BKV | ||
| Technical | |||
| System length | 103.7 km | ||
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) | ||
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BHÉV (Budapest Helyiérdekű Vasút), is a system of four commuter rail lines (Szentendre HÉV, Gödöllő HÉV, Csömör HÉV and Ráckeve HÉV) and rapid transit (Csepel HÉV and Békásmegyer HÉV (part of the Szentendre HÉV)) lines in and around Budapest, Hungary. The BHÉV operates on standard gauge (1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) ), and is electrified at 1000 V DC.
The BHÉV lines were constructed as branch lines of the Hungarian State Railways. Helyiérdekű vasút (HÉV), literally "railway of local interest", is a general term in Hungarian traffic. Therefore, like internationally with the term metro, the stations are only marked with H or HÉV, though this is not the full name of the system. The four BHÉV lines are operated by the public transport company BKV, yet are not part of the Budapest Metro. Inside Budapest, standard BKV tickets and passes are valid on the BHÉV. Outside Budapest, a separate ticket must be validated.
Network
The BHÉV connects Csepel (south), Ráckeve (far south), Gödöllő (northeast), and Szentendre (north) with various points of central Budapest. The four BHÉV lines are not connected directly, each originating from a different terminus, but their railway are still connected to the MÁV lines. The BHÉV is a hybrid between a commuter rail and a rapid transit. Although most of its stations are above ground and outdoor, some are underground (for example the city centre terminus at Batthyány tér).
| Logo | Name | Termini |
|---|---|---|
| 40px | Szentendrei HÉV | Batthyány tér M - Szentendre |
| 40px | Ráckevei HÉV | Közvágóhíd - Ráckeve |
| 40px | Csepeli HÉV | Boráros tér - Csepel |
| 40px | Gödöllői HÉV | Örs vezér tére M - Gödöllő |
| 40px | Csömöri HÉV | Örs vezér tére M - Csömör |
Future
The BHÉV lines are planned to become integrated into the metro network. The Szentendre, Ráckeve and Csepel lines are slated to be merged into what is called the metro line 5 (North-South Regional rapid railway). The connection will be made by an underground line between the Kaszásdűlő and Lágymányosi bridge stations, and extended in order to reach the center of Pesterzsébet. The Urban and Suburban Transit Association (Városi és Elővárosi Közlekedési Egyesület) has presented a plan to merge line 2 with the HÉV from Gödöllő. The city government did not totally accept the plan, but it still may be built after 2015.
Former lines
Today there are four (plus one branch line to Csömör) BHÉV lines in and around Budapest, but there were other HÉV lines around Budapest.
Now integrated to MÁV's (Hungarian State Railways) network: Esztergom HÉV (today suburban railway, since 1931 owned by Hungarian State Railways), Lajosmizse HÉV (suburban railway, a.k.a. Budapest-Tiszai HÉV (1909)), Vác–Budapest–Veresegyház–Gödöllő HÉV (partially abandoned, but the Vác-Veresegyház-Budapest line is still in operation).
Owned by the local tramway operators and abandoned or integrated to the actual tramway network:
Branch of Budapest-Budafok HÉV - owned by BKVT: Budafok HÉV (today tram route 47), Törökbálint HÉV (mostly demolished, the remained line is tram no. 41, Nagytétény HÉV line (from Budafok to Budatétény and Nagytétény; converted to tram line 43 in 1963, later withdrawn).
BVKV (Budapestvidéki Közúti vasút - Budapest Suburban Tramway, owned by BKVT): its line is almost totally withdrawn and relpaced by bus service, but it has been carried out in decades and as first step the line has been converted to tramway.
Withdrawn BHÉV lines: Pesterzsébet (converted to tramway and radically reduced), Rákosszentmihály (a line connected to Budapest-Gödöllő branch, replaced by bus).
Branch of Budapest-Szentlőrinci HÉV (owned by BLVV): Pestszentlőrinc line (now tram line Nr. 50), Kispest line (now tram line 42).
See also
External links
Media related to Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. at Wikimedia Commons
- Schedule at BKV site
- UrbanRail.Net map
- Budapest HÉV railway photos
- Commuter service around Budapest: The BHEV
- Map of BHÉV lines
- Map of old BHÉV lines
