Budapest rolls out its first-ever on-demand bus service!

Exceptionally passenger-friendly, innovative, and cost-effective – these are just a few ways to describe the new Route 274 “Csobajbusz”. The BKK’s new demand-responsive, flexible-route service was launched on Tuesday, 26 August, in Budapest’s 16th District.

This new bus line connects the previously hard-to-access Csobaj-bánya area to the city’s public transportation network. What makes this pilot project unique in Budapest is that within its flexible route zone, buses don’t travel along a fixed path; instead, they stop at designated pick-up and drop-off points based on user demand, BKK reports.

Route 274, branded as the “Csobajbusz,” will operate between the Cinkota HÉV station and the Csobaj-bánya area in District 16. In recent years, this part of the district has seen significant residential and commercial development, including new homes, apartment buildings, shops, and public institutions like kindergartens.

The new bus line allows locals to reach the Cinkota HÉV station more quickly and comfortably, and from there continue their journey into inner Budapest. The service is a first in Hungary. The concept behind demand-responsive, flexible-route transportation is that passengers can access the service only by making a reservation in advance. Unlike conventional routes, buses don’t follow a fixed path; instead, they adjust their stops based on current travel requests within a designated service area.

Passengers can book their trips at csobajbusz.bkk.hu up to one week in advance – or at the latest, 30 minutes before departure on the BKK website, with the first buses rolling out the following morning.

source: Daily News Hungary

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Budapest riverbanks to close on Monday evening, mayor warns of prolonged flood

In response to rising water levels on the Danube, Budapest authorities are preparing for serious flooding by closing the city’s riverbanks and reinforcing defences on Margaret Island with sandbags.

Mayor Gergely Karácsony has warned residents to expect a significant and prolonged flood, with the capital’s flood defence status raised to the highest alert level starting Monday.

In a video posted on Facebook, Mayor Karácsony expressed concern that the upcoming flood could last for an extended period due to continuous rainfall in the Danube’s catchment area.

Starting at 8 PM on Monday, both the Pest and Buda lower riverbanks will be closed to the public.

According to the mayor’s office, the flood alert level will increase to third degree as of Monday, based on updated forecasts. The latest projections suggest that water levels could rise by one meter per day in Budapest, with the river potentially cresting above 8 meters by midweek.

Given the severity of the situation, Mayor Karácsony announced that as of midnight on Monday, flood defences will be ramped up citywide. The city’s flood management team will implement a number of measures in response to the rising water. Among the planned actions, the Budapest Sewage Works Company will close flood barriers along Nánási and Királyok roads and construct a four-kilometre-long clay embankment, standing one meter tall and four meters wide.

As a result, Királyok Road will be closed to traffic starting Monday, Economx reports. On Margaret Island, lower-lying areas will be fortified with sandbags, with high-powered machinery brought in to assist. If necessary, authorities may also close the island entirely to both vehicles and pedestrians later in the week. Floodwaters are expected to reach the lower riverbanks on Tuesday, 17 September.

Sections of the Pest embankment, already closed for a weekend event, will remain shut until floodwaters recede.

Additionally, the entirety of the Pest and Buda lower riverbanks will close from 8 PM on Monday. From midnight on Saturday, parking along the riverbanks will be prohibited, with any remaining vehicles towed away by the city’s enforcement agency on Monday.

Public transportation in flood-prone areas along the river could also be affected, with further details to be announced early next week, depending on how the situation develops.