Sad news – Danube boat service suspended this summer
There will be no scheduled BKV boats on the Danube in Budapest this year, Tibor Bolla, CEO of BKV, revealed yesterday. The epidemic had a severe impact on the company’s budget, and the management of the company has decided to spend on surface transport, buses, and trams instead.
According to Telex, the boat service is operated at an additional cost – approximately EUR 1-1.5 million per year – that they simply cannot afford after the pandemic. The number of public transport users was reduced by almost half, so the company wrote off a EUR 730 million loss of fares last year, while spending almost EUR 300,000 on protection against the coronavirus epidemic, says Népszava.
The boat service is part of the public transport network. The BKV ships’ route is part of the UNESCO World Heritage and offers a unique sightseeing opportunity in the capital without charging an extra fee.
The service is usually available on working days for BKK pass holders. The fleet consists of seven ships, and the company issues a tender for the operation of these vessels each year. It used to operate in the spring and summer season, from March until the end of August.
During the epidemic, however, waterborne transport was suspended.
There is no decision about providing the service next year, says Bolla. The company has to decide if it is worth continuing the service despite it being unprofitable.
Source: Telex, Népszava, Bkv