Editing Budapest (section)

== Infrastructure and transportation ==

=== Airport ===
{{Main|Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport}}
[[File:Liszt Ferenc Repuloter 2-es terminal varocsarnok 06.JPG|thumb|right|[[Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport|Budapest International Airport]] arrivals and departures lounge between [[Airport terminal|terminal]] 2A and 2B, named SkyCourt]]

Budapest is served by [[Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport]] (BUD) (named after [[Franz Liszt]], the notable Hungarian composer), one of the busiest airports in [[Central and Eastern Europe]], located {{convert|16|km|mi}} east-southeast of the centre of Budapest, in the [[Pestszentlőrinc-Pestszentimre|District XVIII]]. The airport offers international connections among all major European cities, and also to North America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
As Hungary's busiest airport, it handles nearly all of the country's air passenger traffic. Budapest Liszt Ferenc handled around 250 [[Airline|scheduled flights]] daily in 2013, and an ever-rising number of [[Air charter|charters]]. London, [[Brussels]], Frankfurt, [[Munich]], Paris, and [[Amsterdam]] are the busiest international connections respectively, while [[Toronto]], Montreal, [[Dubai]], [[Doha]] and [[Alicante]] are the most unusual in the region.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://canadianaviationnews.wordpress.com/2014/10/15/air-transat-unveils-its-new-europe-program-for-2015/ |title=Air Transat unveils its new Europe program for 2015 |date=15 October 2014 |access-date=15 October 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017125912/http://canadianaviationnews.wordpress.com/2014/10/15/air-transat-unveils-its-new-europe-program-for-2015/ |archive-date=17 October 2014}}</ref>
Today the airport serves as a base for [[Ryanair]], [[Wizz Air]], [[Budapest Aircraft Service]], [[LOT Polish Airlines]] and [[Travel Service Hungary|Smartwings Hungary]] among others. The airport is accessible via public transportation from the city centre by the Metro line 3 and then the airport bus [[Budapest bus route 200E|200E]] and [[Budapest bus route 100E|100E]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://bkk.hu/apps/docs/terkep/repter.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://bkk.hu/apps/docs/terkep/repter.pdf |archive-date=9 October 2022 |url-status=live |title=From the Airport to the City centre by public transport |year=2014 |publisher=Centre for Budapest Transport |access-date=20 May 2014}}</ref>

As part of a strategic development plan, €561&nbsp;million have been spent on expanding and modernising the [[airport infrastructure]] until December 2012. Most of these improvements are already completed,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bud.hu/english/business-and-partners/property |title=Budapest Airport Property development |date=17 March 2014 |publisher=Budapest Airport |access-date=20 May 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111224221527/http://www.bud.hu/english/business-and-partners/property |archive-date=24 December 2011}}</ref> the postponed ones are the new cargo area and new piers for terminal 2A and 2B, but these development are on standby also, and will start immediately, when the airport traffic will reach the appropriate level.
SkyCourt, the newest, state-of-the-art building between the 2A and 2B terminals with 5 levels. Passenger safety checks were moved here along with new baggage classifiers and the new Malév and SkyTeam [[Airport lounge|business lounges]], as well as the first MasterCard lounge in Europe.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.futuretravelexperience.com/2011/09/budapest-airport-unveils-europes-first-mastercard-lounge/ |title=Budapest Airport unveils Europe's first MasterCard lounge |date=15 September 2011 |publisher=Future Travel Experience |access-date=20 May 2014}}</ref>

=== Public transportation ===
[[File:Budapest metro hev en.png|thumb|right|Budapest [[rapid transit|metro and rapid transit]] network within the city and to suburbs]]
[[File:Metro 4, M4, Line 4 (Budapest Metro), Kálvin tér.jpg|thumb|[[Line 4 (Budapest Metro)|Green Line 4]], a [[Automatic train operation|driverless metro]] line with real-time [[Passenger information system|PIDS]] system at Kálvin square, a transfer station to [[Line 3 (Budapest Metro)|Blue Line 3]]]]
[[File:17-es villamos (2211).jpg|alt=|thumb|CAF Tram on Line 17 at Széll Kálmán Square]]

Public transit in Budapest is provided by the [[Budapesti Közlekedési Központ|Centre for Budapest Transport (BKK, ''Budapesti Közlekedési Központ'')]], one of the largest [[transportation authority|transportation authorities]] in Europe.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://bkk.hu/en/main-page/bkk-in-brief/ |title=Centre for Budapest Transport in brief |publisher=Centre for Budapest Transport |access-date=20 May 2014}}</ref> BKK operates 4 [[Budapest Metro|metro lines]] (including the historic [[Line 1 (Budapest Metro)|Line 1]], the oldest underground railway in continental Europe), 5 [[HÉV|suburban railway lines]], 33 [[Trams in Budapest|tram lines]], 15 trolleybus lines, 264 bus lines (including 40 [[night bus|night routes]]), 4 boat services, and ''[[BuBi]]'', a smart [[Bicycle sharing system|bicycle sharing network]]. On an average weekday, BKK lines transports 3.9&nbsp;million riders; in 2011, it handled a total of 1.4&nbsp;billion passengers.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://static.bkv.hu/ftp/ftp/annual_report/annualreport2011en.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://static.bkv.hu/ftp/ftp/annual_report/annualreport2011en.pdf |archive-date=9 October 2022 |url-status=live |title=Annual Report 2011 |date=February 2012 |publisher=BKV Zrt. |access-date=20 May 2014}}</ref> In 2014, the 65% of the passenger traffic in Budapest was by public transport and 35% by car. The aim is 80%–20% by 2030 in accordance with the strategy of BKK.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Melinda Ábel |author2=Szilvia Andrássy |author3=Virág Bencze-Kovács |title=Balázs Mór Plan – Budapest Mobility Plan |url=http://www.sump-challenges.eu/sites/www.sump-challenges.eu/files/bmt2016_eng_v3.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.sump-challenges.eu/sites/www.sump-challenges.eu/files/bmt2016_eng_v3.pdf |archive-date=9 October 2022 |url-status=live |page=26 |publisher=Centre for Budapest Transport |display-authors=2}}</ref>

People aged 65 and over and under 14 travel free.<ref>[https://bkk.hu/downloads/5330/ Local transport discounts] bkk.hu</ref>

The development of complex [[intelligent transportation system]] in the city is advancing; the application of [[smart traffic light]]s is widespread, they are GPS and computer controlled and give priority to the GPS connected public transport vehicles automatically, as well as the traffic is measured and analyzed on the roads and car drivers informed about the expected travel time and traffic by intelligent displays (EasyWay project).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://bkk.hu/fejleszteseink/easyway-projekt/ |title=Easyway project – Digital information |date=23 September 2014 |publisher=BKK Zrt. |access-date=24 October 2014}}</ref> Public transport users are immediately notified of any changes in public transport online, on [[smartphones]] and on [[Passenger information system|PIDS]] displays, as well car drivers can keep track of changes in traffic and road management in real-time online and on [[smartphone]]s through the ''BKK Info''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://bkk.hu/bkk_info/ |title=BKK Info online (public transport) |date=28 October 2014 |publisher=BKK Zrt. |access-date=28 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://kozut.bkkinfo.hu/ |title=BKK Info online (roads and road transport) |date=28 October 2014 |publisher=BKK Zrt. |access-date=28 October 2014}}</ref> As well all vehicles can be followed online and on smartphones in real-time throughout the city with the ''Futár'' PIDS system,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://futar.bkk.hu/ |title=BKK Futár PIDS system online |date=28 October 2014 |publisher=BKK Zrt. |access-date=28 October 2014}}</ref> while the continuous introducing of [[Integrated ticketing|integrated e-ticket]] system will help the measurement of passenger numbers on each line and the intelligent control of service frequency.

The development of ''Futár'', the citywide [[Real-time business intelligence|real-time]] [[passenger information system]] and real-time [[Public transport route planner|route planner]] is finished already and now all of the public transport vehicle is connected via satellite system. The real-time information of trams, buses and trolleybuses are available for both the operators in the control room and for all the passengers in all stops on smartphone and on city street displays.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://bkk.hu/en/2014/09/bkk-has-launched-its-futar-trip-planner-app-for-web-smartphones-and-tablets/ |title=BKK has launched its FUTÁR Journey Planner app for web, smartphones and tablets |date=23 September 2014 |publisher=BKK Zrt. |access-date=24 October 2014}}</ref> The implementation of latest generation [[automated fare collection system|automated fare collection]] and [[Electronic ticket|e-ticket system]] with [[Near field communication|NFC]] compatibility and reusable [[Contactless payment|contactless]] [[smart card]]s for making [[electronic money|electronic payments]] in online and offline systems in Budapest is started in 2014, the project is implemented and operated by the operator of Hong Kong [[Octopus card]] jointly with one of the leading European companies of e-ticket and automated fare collection, [[Scheidt & Bachmann Ticket XPress|Scheidt & Bachmann]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://bkk.hu/en/2014/10/budapest-signed-the-contract-agreement-for-the-automated-fare-collection-system/ |title=Budapest signed the Contract Agreement for the Automated Fare Collection system |date=8 October 2014 |publisher=BKK Zrt. |access-date=24 October 2014}}</ref> The deployment of 300 new digital contactless [[ticket vending machine]] will be finished by the end of 2014 in harmonization with the e-ticket system.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://bkk.hu/en/2014/07/purchase-your-ticket-easier/ |title=Purchase your ticket easier |date=17 July 2014 |publisher=BKK Zrt. |access-date=24 October 2014}}</ref> In 2022, ''Futár'' was rebranded as ''BudapestGo.''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Balázs |first=Ambrus |date=7 February 2022 |title=Jön az integrált utazási app, a Budapest GO |url=https://index.hu/belfold/2022/02/07/jon-az-integralt-utazasi-app-a-budapest-go/ |access-date=11 February 2024 |website=index.hu |language=hu}}</ref>

[[File:5-ös busz (MYK-372).jpg|alt=|thumb|A Volvo 7900A Hybrid in Budapest on Line 5 operated by BKK]]

Tram lines no. 4 and 6 are the busiest city tram lines in the world,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/putting-the-worlds-longest-trams-into-service-in-budapest.html |title=Putting the world's longest trams into service in Budapest |date=1 April 2006 |publisher=Railwaygazette.com |access-date=20 May 2014 |archive-date=16 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216093858/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/putting-the-worlds-longest-trams-into-service-in-budapest.html |url-status=dead}}</ref> with one of the world's longest trams (54-metre long Siemens [[Combino]]) running at 2–3-minute intervals at peak time and 4–5 minutes off-peak. Day services are usually from 4{{nbsp}}am until between 11{{nbsp}}pm and 0:30{{nbsp}}am.<ref name="A good place to live – Budapest" /> [[Hungarian State Railways]] operates an extensive network of [[commuter rail]] services, their importance in the suburban commuter passenger traffic is significant, but in travel within the city is limited.
The organiser of public transport in Budapest is the [[municipal corporation]] ''Centre for Budapest Transport'' (Budapesti Közlekedési Központ – BKK), that is responsible for planning and organising network and services, planning and developing tariff concepts, attending to [[public service]] procurer duties, managing public service contracts, operating controlling and monitoring systems, setting and monitoring service level agreements related to public transport, attending to customer service duties, selling and monitoring tickets and passes, attending to integrated passenger information duties, unified Budapest-centric traffic control within public transport, attending to duties related to river navigation, plus the management of Budapest roads, operating [[taxi station]]s, unified control of [[bicycle traffic]] development in the capital, preparing [[parking]] strategy and developing an operational concept, preparation of road traffic management, developing an optimal [[traffic management]] system, organising and co-ordinating road reconstruction and more, in short, everything which is related to transport in the city.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://bkk.hu/en/main-page/tasks-responsibilities/ |title=Tasks & Responsibilities |publisher=Centre for Budapest Transport |access-date=20 May 2014}}</ref>

=== Roads and railways ===
{{Main|Hungarian State Railways|Motorways in Hungary}}
[[File:Nyugati pályaudvar, Budapest.jpg|thumb|left|[[Budapest Nyugati station|Western railway station]]]]
[[File:Civertanmegyeri5.jpg|thumb|right|[[Megyeri Bridge]] on [[M0 motorway (Hungary)|M0 highway ring road]] around Budapest]]
[[File:14-05-06-budapest-RalfR-11.jpg|alt=|thumb|[[Budapest Keleti railway station|Keleti Railway Station]] (Budapest East Central)]]

Budapest is the most important Hungarian road terminus, all of the major highways and railways end within the city limits. The road system in the city is designed in a similar manner to that of Paris, with several ring roads, and avenues radiating out from the center. [[Ring road]] [[M0 motorway (Hungary)|M0]] around Budapest is nearly completed, with only one section missing on the west side due to local disputes. The ring road is {{convert|80|km|0|abbr=off}} in length, and once finished it will be {{convert|107|km|0|abbr=out}} of highway in length.

The city is a vital traffic hub because all major European roads and European railway lines lead to Budapest.<ref name="budapest.com" /> The Danube was and is still today an important water-way and this region in the centre of the Carpathian Basin lies at the cross-roads of trade routes.<ref name="budpocketguide.com" />
Hungarian main line railways are operated by Hungarian State Railways. There are three main railway station in Budapest, [[Budapest Keleti pályaudvar|Keleti (''Eastern'')]], [[Budapest Nyugati pályaudvar|Nyugati (''Western'')]] and [[Budapest Déli pályaudvar|Déli (''Southern'')]], operating both domestic and international [[rail service]]s. Budapest is one of the main stops of the Orient Express on its Central and Eastern European route.<ref>{{cite web |title=Venice Simplon-Orient-Express Destinations |url=http://www.belmond.com/venice-simplon-orient-express/search_results?station=Budapest |access-date=23 September 2014}}</ref> There is also a [[Suburban trains in Budapest|suburban rail]] service in and around Budapest, three lines of which are operated under the name HÉV.

=== Ports, shipping and others ===
The river Danube flows through Budapest on its way from (Germany) to the [[Black Sea]]. The river is easily navigable and so Budapest historically has a major [[commercial port]] at [[Csepel]] District and at [[Újpest|New Pest]] District also. The Pest side is also a famous port place with [[international shipping]] ports for cargo<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.danubeports.info/index.php?id=1287 |title=Budapest Freeport |date=6 May 2011 |publisher=danubeports.info |access-date=20 May 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140521033101/http://www.danubeports.info/index.php?id=1287 |archive-date=21 May 2014}}</ref> and for passenger ships.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cruise-profi.com/228/hungary/budapest--hungary-/1.html |title=Budapest cruise terminal |year=2014 |publisher=cruise-profi.com |access-date=20 May 2014}}</ref> In the summer months, a scheduled [[hydrofoil]] service operates on the Danube connecting the city to Vienna.

BKK (through the operator [[Budapesti Közlekedési Zrt.|BKV]]) also provides public transport with boat service within the borders of the city. Two routes, marked D11 and D12, connect the two banks with Margaret Island and Óbuda Island, from Rómaifürdő (Buda side, north to Óbuda Island) or Árpád Bridge (Pest side) to Rákóczi Bridge, with a total of 18 stops, while route D2 circulates in the downtown.<ref name="bkk-boats">{{cite web |url=https://bkk.hu/en/boats/ |title=Information on public transport boats |publisher=BKK Budapesti Közlekedési Központ |access-date=30 April 2020}}</ref> Line D14 is a ferry service, connecting Királyerdő on the [[Csepel Island]] with Molnár Island on the Pest side, south to the city centre.<ref name="bkk-boats" /> In addition, several companies provides sightseeing boat trips and also an amphibious vehicle (bus and boat) operates constantly.

Water quality in Budapest harbours improved dramatically in the recent years, treatment facilities processed 100% of generated sewage in 2010. Budapesters regularly [[kayak]], [[canoe]], [[jet-ski]] and [[sail]] on the Danube, which has continuously become a major recreational site for the city.

Special vehicles in Budapest, besides metros, include suburban rails, trams and boats. There are a couple of less common vehicles in Budapest, like the trolleybus on several lines in [[Pest (city)|Pest]], the [[Budapest Castle Hill Funicular|Castle Hill Funicular]] between the [[Széchenyi Chain Bridge|Chain Bridge]] and Buda Castle, the [[cyclecar]] for rent in Margaret Island, the [[chairlift]], the [[Budapest Cog-wheel Railway]] and [[children's railway]]. The latter three vehicles run among Buda hills.