The vendor and operation contracts on the build and five-year operation of the automated fare collection system in Budapest had been signed in the City Hall with the German Scheidt&Bachmann, in the presence of Mayor István Tarlós. The entire system will be fully introduced by 2017, step by step. The citizens of Budapest will receive the first electronic travel cards, replacing the paper-based pass free of charge.
This is an important step in the life of the capital city, providing the passengers with a modern, more comfortable service, said Mayor István Tarlós before the signing ceremony. The Mayor recalled that they had launched this program in 2010 when they took over the governance of the city; the Municipality of Budapest has trusted BKK with the task of project preparation. They succeeded to make an arrangement on financing with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) by 2013: they managed to conclude an agreement worth EUR 54.5 million, and then the tendering could start. He added that the Municipality provided HUF 5.3 billion of its own sources for the implementation.
At first it may be hard to estimate what a quality change this new system brings in comfort. There is no need then to wait in queues, passengers will be able to purchase tickets and cards with their mobile phones or on the internet. Budapest will not only catch up Europe, but it will even be one step ahead of all those cities that it was lagging behind for decades, added the mayor.
