Biggest ever transport strike starts in Budapest

Employees of Budapest public transport operator BKV started a 24-hour strike at midnight on Thursday, which is the longest ever period of time they have refused to work during the 40-year history of the company. Nearly all employees are on strike. A few trams and buses operated by the company's subcontractors are running.

According to a minute-by-minute report on index.hu, while a few trams were in service on line 4-6 on the Nagykörút in the morning, they stopped at 11 a.m. and will not be operating until at least 2 p.m. The BKV earlier said that a few trams on lines 1, 18 and 4-6 would be in operation during the day.

Several readers of index.hu report that the strike has had a positive effect on their day: Many people realized going to work by bicycle is easy, while others noticed that after the morning rush, streets emptied, and the air is cleaner. Still others, who opted to not walk or cycle to work, are grateful to strangers who picked them up by car and tram drivers who decided to break the strike.

Some locals, however, expressed their disagreement with the strike by shooting at the Budafok tram depot at 6 p.m. yesterday. BKV employees could not tell whether an air rifle or a slingshot was used. The bullets arrived from the direction of a nearby 10-story building and targeted employees. Somebody was still firing when police arrived at the scene this morning.

Also this morning, an unknown explosive was thrown at the District II Szép Ilona tram depot. The explosion damaged a tram, but nobody was injured. Police are looking for the perpetrator.

Subcontractors of the BKV are operating their buses on lines 150, 14, 114, 30, 41, Red 41, 50, 58, 250, 13-113-113A, 87-87A-187.

In districts IV, XIV and XVII, buses are running run on lines 88, 120, 147, Red 170, Trolley 83, 73.

Railway company MÁV-Start accepts BKV passes on trains running between Budapest and Budaörs, Solymár, Gödöllő, Gyál and Dunaharaszti.

Budapest's notary has asked drivers to pick up people waiting at bus stops if they can, both in the morning and in the afternoon. For this purpose, cars are allowed to stop at bus stops during the day. Passengers should indicate which direction they are headed with signs displaying numbers. For example, Moszkva tér is indicated with the number "4," Nyugati pályaudvar with "13" and Örs vezér tere with "22."

Meanwhile, the city government has suggested that if possible, people use their bicycles on Friday. Bicycles can be stored for free at the Gerlóczy utca yard of the Mayor's Office today.

The trade unions are protesting against planned cuts in services and layoffs and for better working conditions. The company said the 24-hour strike is too much, as it punishes the residents of the city and its environs by paralyzing traffic.

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