The longest trams in the world at their time of introduction, a 55.9m nine-section Urbos in Budapest in late 2016. Kemenymate / CC BY-SA 4.0
Budapest transport operator Budapesti Közlekedési Központ (BKK)is to receive another 31 Urbostrams, following the conclusion of a deal with CAF that adds to the 20 ordered in October. The latest order marks the final tranche of a framework that will see the city pay ‘close to 2014 prices’, and follows an extension of the deadline to exercise the options, originally due to expire in May 2022.
Both 34m (2200 series) and 55.9m (2100 series) versions of the low-floor Urbos have entered service in the Hungarian capital since late 2015 – a total of 73 so far. Of these, 17 2100 series are in service on line 1, with 56 of the shorter version on lines 3, 14, 17, 19, 42, 50 and 69.
Delivery of these final trams under the current framework is to follow on from the previous 20,which are expected to arrive in 2024. Of the total 51 trams, five will be the 2100 series to allow enhanced service on line 1, with the remainder being the shorter five-section 2200 series to allow the introduction of low-floor trams onlines, 24, 51A, 56-56A, and 61.
Finance for the HUF54bn (EUR140m) order is to come from a combination of local sources and the European Union’s Cohesion Fund.