BHÉV

BHÉV is a system of four commuter rail lines and rapid transit lines in and around Budapest, Hungary. The BHÉV operates on standard gauge, and is electrified at 1100 V DC.
The BHÉV lines were constructed as branch lines of the Hungarian State Railways. Helyiérdekű vasút , literally "railway of local interest", is a general term in Hungarian traffic. Therefore, like internationally with the term metro, the stations are marked only with H or HÉV, though this is not the full name of the system. The five BHÉV lines are operated by the public transport company MÁV-HÉV Zrt., a subsidiary of Hungarian State Railways. Inside Budapest, standard BKK tickets and passes are valid on the BHÉV. Outside Budapest, a separate ticket must be purchased.

Lines and developments

Network

The BHÉV lines connect Csepel, Ráckeve, Gödöllő, and Szentendre with various points of central Budapest. The four BHÉV lines are not connected directly, each originating from a different terminus, but all of them are connected to the national network enabling transfers of rolling stock. The BHÉV is a hybrid between a commuter rail and a rapid transit. Although most of its stations are above ground and outdoor, two are located underground.

Future

The BHÉV lines are planned to become integrated into the metro network. The Szentendre, Ráckeve and Csepel lines are slated to be merged into what is called the metro line 5. The connection will be made by an underground line between the Kaszásdűlő and Lágymányosi bridge stations, and extended in order to reach the center of Pesterzsébet. The Urban and Suburban Transit Association has presented a plan to merge line 2 with the HÉV from Gödöllő. The city government did not totally accept the plan, but it still may be built after 2021.

Former lines

[Image:BKV hev symbol.svg|thumb|100px|Logo used between 2011 and 2014]
Today there are four BHÉV lines in and around Budapest, although other HÉV lines around Budapest have existed in the past.
Now integrated to MÁV's network:

Esztergom HÉV
Lajosmizse HÉV
Vác–Budapest–Veresegyház–Gödöllő HÉV

Owned by the local tramway operators and abandoned or integrated to the actual tramway network:

Budafok HÉV
Törökbálint HÉV, the remaining line is tram no. 41
Nagytétény HÉV line

Withdrawn BHÉV lines:

Pesterzsébet
Rákosszentmihály
The BVKV is almost totally withdrawn and has been replaced by bus service, although the first stop has been converted to a tram stop.

Branch of Budapest-Szentlőrinci HÉV :

Pestszentlőrinc line
Kispest line