Unchanged, we share the news from our project partner, BKK, about the Dream_Pace project funded by Interreg Central Europe, which aims to improve the accessibility of public transport networks by strategically establishing and introducing demand responsive transport solutions. The original news item, which includes details of the Budapest pilot project and the related questionnaire, can be found at this link in Hungarian.
Extremely passenger-friendly, innovative, and economical—these are just some of the adjectives that can be used to describe the 'Csobajbusz', route number 274. BKK's new, flexible, demand responsive service will launch on Tuesday, August 26, in the capital's 16th district. The new bus service connects an area (the Csobaj-b area) to the capital's public transport network that was previously difficult to reach by various services. What makes this development, the first of its kind in Budapest, unique is that it does not run on a predetermined route within the flexible route area, but rather stops at pick-up and drop-off points based on demand.
From Tuesday, August 26, the 'Csobajbusz', bus line 274 will run between the Cinkota HÉV station and the Csobaj-bánya area in District XVI. In recent years, there has been a lot of real estate development in this part of the district: family homes and apartment buildings have been built, and several shops and public service facilities, such as a kindergarten, have been established. The bus will enable local residents to reach the Cinkota HÉV station more quickly and conveniently, from where they can continue their journey to the inner areas of the capital.
The service is a novelty in Hungary. The essence of the so-called flexible route, demand-responsive transport system is that passengers can use the bus based on their reservations in advance, and the bus does not run on a predetermined route but flexibly stops at pick-up and drop-off points within a given area, depending on current travel needs.
Using the system, passengers can book their trips on the csobajbusz.bkk.hu website no later than half an hour before departure and no earlier than one week in advance. The reservation system for route 274, i.e. the 'Csobajbusz', will be available on the BKK website from August 25, with the first buses departing on the morning of August 26. In addition to the online interface, similar to Telebusz, travel requests can also be made by phone at +36 1 3 255 255, or in person with the driver exclusively at the Cinkota HÉV station, immediately before the departure of the given bus.
The flexible, demand responsive transport system is based on software that optimizes the route based on incoming reservations. As a result, vehicles do not run on fixed routes, but according to passenger demand. This not only makes travel more comfortable, but also contributes to environmental protection by reducing harmful emissions from unnecessary empty runs, and the economic benefits are also significant.
BKK's goal is to introduce a similar system in several districts of Budapest in the future, which will serve passengers in a flexible and sustainable way. Based on experience, the system is particularly effective in areas with low passenger traffic and during periods when traditional services are underutilized. Similar, but less flexible, demand-responsive services (Telebusz) have been operating in the capital for a long time, for example in District XVII, which neighbors District XVI. More information about the system is available on the BKK website.
The local government of District XVI played a key role in the implementation of the project, actively participating in the selection of possible routes and the design of the so-called boarding points. Unlike traditional bus stops found elsewhere, these locations do not have platforms covering the entire length of the vehicle. Another important difference is that the boarding points along the route mark street intersections, so the bus may arrive from a different direction than before, depending on the given route. However, due to the specific characteristics of the area, this does not affect the comfort of passengers.
A significant part of the developments related to route 274, and thus the 'Csobajbusz', were made possible by European Union funding. The project, supported by the European Union's Interreg Central Europe transnational cooperation program, is called "DREAM_PACE – Demand REsponsive trAnsport integrating regional Mobility networks for PAssengers in Central Europe" (project name: DREAM_PACE, project ID: CE0100046, WBS code: KI22.01), launched on March 1, 2023, aims to improve public transport services in peripheral areas with low population density. BKK Zrt. is participating in the project as a project partner; its task is to develop demand-driven public transport services in the capital. Further information about the project is available on the BKK website.
The Hungarian partner's participation in the project is (was) co-financed by the Hungarian State.
Project website: https://www.interreg-central.eu/projects/dream-pace/
Grant agreement ID: CE0100046
