Trams in Miskolc
Encyclopedia
The Miskolc tramway network is an important part of the public transport
network serving Miskolc
, Hungary
.
In operation since 1897, the network presently has two lines.
. The plans for the first tram line were finished in 1895.
The first tram line opened on July 10, 1897 and had eight stops (including the termini) between Tiszai railway station and St. Anne's Church
. This route still forms part of the routes of both of the current lines. Miskolc was the fourth Hungarian city to have a tram line built, after Budapest
(1887), Pozsony
(now Bratislava) (1895) and Szombathely
(earlier in 1897); it was the second city to have a standard gauge
tramway as the ones in Pozsony and Szombathely were narrow gauge
.
Due to the success of the east-west line, a north-south line was built before the end of 1897 between Búza tér (the main market of the city) and People's Garden
(a popular leisure park). This was extended to the neighbouring village of Hejőcsaba in 1910.
It was only in the early 20th century that the east-west line was extended to reach Diósgyőr. Traffic on the line between St. Anne's Church and Diósgyőr started in 1904. Permission was granted for it to operate not as a city railway but as a suburban railway as it went beyond the administrative border of Miskolc. It was also operated by a different company, the Miskolc-Diósgyőr Municipal Railway Company (MDV Rt.) while the Tiszai station–St. Anne's Church line was operated by the Electric Company of Miskolc (MVV Rt.) This arrangement required passengers to change cars at the church; the resulting inconvenience was solved in 1906 when the two lines were united and management of the Diósgyőr line was taken over by MVV.
Until 1947, the tram operator also ensured the supply of electricity to Miskolc.
After World War II
, the city boundaries were shifted away from its center; Miskolc became the second largest city in the People's Republic of Hungary
. Heavy industry became important, and public housing was built, adding patronage to the tram and bus lines, the main task of which was delivering workers to factories.
In 1954, MVV was merged with the company responsible for the bus lines, under the name Mass Transport Company of Miskolc (MKV). The north-south line was lifted in 1960, as it could not handle the traffic as effectively as the bus lines after new residential areas had been developed in the area. In 1964, the Tiszai station–Diósgyőr line was reconstructed as a double-track line (until then it was single-track).
Public transport
Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
network serving Miskolc
Miskolc
Miskolc is a city in northeastern Hungary, mainly with heavy industrial background. With a population close to 170,000 Miskolc is the fourth largest city of Hungary It is also the county capital of Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén and the regional centre of Northern Hungary.- Geography :Miskolc is located...
, Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
.
In operation since 1897, the network presently has two lines.
History
The need for public transport in Miskolc arose in the second half of the 19th century. The newly built railway line and its station were, at that time, far from the city proper, and even further from the ironworks of the neighboring town DiósgyőrDiósgyor
Diósgyőr is a historical town in Hungary, today it is a part of Miskolc. The medieval castle in Diósgyőr was a favourite holiday residence of Hungarian kings and queens; today it is a popular tourist attraction. The city part has a heavy industrial background...
. The plans for the first tram line were finished in 1895.
The first tram line opened on July 10, 1897 and had eight stops (including the termini) between Tiszai railway station and St. Anne's Church
St. Anne's Church, Miskolc
The St. Anne's Church is a Roman Catholic parish church on St. Anna Square, Miskolc, Hungary. Locally it is often referred to as "Red Church", because of its red roof....
. This route still forms part of the routes of both of the current lines. Miskolc was the fourth Hungarian city to have a tram line built, after Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
(1887), Pozsony
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
(now Bratislava) (1895) and Szombathely
Szombathely
Szombathely is the 10th largest city in Hungary. It is the administrative centre of Vas county in the west of the country, located near the border with Austria...
(earlier in 1897); it was the second city to have a standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
tramway as the ones in Pozsony and Szombathely were narrow gauge
Narrow gauge
A narrow gauge railway is a railway that has a track gauge narrower than the of standard gauge railways. Most existing narrow gauge railways have gauges of between and .- Overview :...
.
Due to the success of the east-west line, a north-south line was built before the end of 1897 between Búza tér (the main market of the city) and People's Garden
People's Garden
The People's Garden is a park in Miskolc, Hungary. With an area of 56.921 m² it's the third largest park of Miskolc The People's Garden (in Hungarian: Népkert) is a park in Miskolc, Hungary. With an area of 56.921 m² it's the third largest park of Miskolc The People's Garden (in Hungarian:...
(a popular leisure park). This was extended to the neighbouring village of Hejőcsaba in 1910.
It was only in the early 20th century that the east-west line was extended to reach Diósgyőr. Traffic on the line between St. Anne's Church and Diósgyőr started in 1904. Permission was granted for it to operate not as a city railway but as a suburban railway as it went beyond the administrative border of Miskolc. It was also operated by a different company, the Miskolc-Diósgyőr Municipal Railway Company (MDV Rt.) while the Tiszai station–St. Anne's Church line was operated by the Electric Company of Miskolc (MVV Rt.) This arrangement required passengers to change cars at the church; the resulting inconvenience was solved in 1906 when the two lines were united and management of the Diósgyőr line was taken over by MVV.
Until 1947, the tram operator also ensured the supply of electricity to Miskolc.
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the city boundaries were shifted away from its center; Miskolc became the second largest city in the People's Republic of Hungary
People's Republic of Hungary
The People's Republic of Hungary or Hungarian People's Republic was the official state name of Hungary from 1949 to 1989 during its Communist period under the guidance of the Soviet Union. The state remained in existence until 1989 when opposition forces consolidated in forcing the regime to...
. Heavy industry became important, and public housing was built, adding patronage to the tram and bus lines, the main task of which was delivering workers to factories.
In 1954, MVV was merged with the company responsible for the bus lines, under the name Mass Transport Company of Miskolc (MKV). The north-south line was lifted in 1960, as it could not handle the traffic as effectively as the bus lines after new residential areas had been developed in the area. In 1964, the Tiszai station–Diósgyőr line was reconstructed as a double-track line (until then it was single-track).
Network evolution
During its history the network has had these lines:- Line 1 (Tiszai station–DiósgyőrDiósgyorDiósgyőr is a historical town in Hungary, today it is a part of Miskolc. The medieval castle in Diósgyőr was a favourite holiday residence of Hungarian kings and queens; today it is a popular tourist attraction. The city part has a heavy industrial background...
) 1897– - Line 2 (Búza tér–Hejőcsaba) 1897–1960
- Line 2 (Tiszai station–Vasgyár (Ironworks)) 1964–
- Line 3 (Diósgyőr–Vasgyár) 1951–1993
- Line 4 (Bulgárföld–Tatárdomb) 1964–1976
- Line 0 (Vasgyár–Marx tér) 1970–1989
Current lines
- Line 1: Tiszai station – DiósgyőrDiósgyorDiósgyőr is a historical town in Hungary, today it is a part of Miskolc. The medieval castle in Diósgyőr was a favourite holiday residence of Hungarian kings and queens; today it is a popular tourist attraction. The city part has a heavy industrial background...
; - Line 2: Tiszai station – Vasgyár (Ironworks).
Current fleet
- 18 ČKDCKDA knock-down kit is a kit containing the parts needed to assemble a product...
Tatra KT8D5Tatra KT8D5Tatra KT8D5 is bidirectional light rail vehicle operating in Europe and Asia. In several variations, it was designed and manufactured by Czech engineering corporation ČKD Tatra from 1984 to 1999...
(operates line 1) (purchased from MostMostMost is the capital city of the Most District, situated between the Czech Central Mountains and the Ore Mountains, approximately northwest of Prague along the Bílina River and southwest of Ústí nad Labem.-Etymology:...
and KošiceKošiceKošice is a city in eastern Slovakia. It is situated on the river Hornád at the eastern reaches of the Slovak Ore Mountains, near the border with Hungary...
in the 1990s); - 18 SGPSimmering-Graz-PaukerSimmering-Graz-Pauker AG was one of the most important Austrian industrial conglomerates, which used to have several thousand employees all around the world.-Images:Heute das ist SIemmens SGP 2007...
E1 (on line 2 only);6 Lohner C3 passenger trailers (currently not in service, likely to be disposed of);1 M5 snowplowSnowplowA snowplow is a device intended for mounting on a vehicle, used for removing snow and ice from outdoor surfaces, typically those serving transportation purposes...
.
Heritage fleet
- 1 FVV 1100 vintage tram, not in regular service (can be frequently seen during the Opera FestivalMiskolc Opera FestivalThe Miskolc Opera Festival or International Opera Festival of Miskolc is a cultural event held every summer in Miskolc, the capital of Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén county, Hungary...
); - 1 FVV 1200 vintage tram, not in regular service.