Hungary - Tram services over obscure routes
Introduction
Some tram systems advertise their depot workings and enable one to ascertain the regular use by passenger-carrying services of junctions or sections of line that do not otherwise see public service. This occasional series lists such services that have come to notice. While the data for each system is current at the date stated, it is not the intention to endeavour to keep every entry up to date at every service change - the listing serves as a guide for travellers as to the sort of services they can look out for, enabling them to check current published timetable material at their time of travel.
To assist in tracing services, the route and/or timetable number for each journey is shown in parentheses, e.g. (1). Days of operation are in English notation (respectively: Su, M, T, W, Th, F, S) - plus "O" for only, "X" for excepted. Su (Sundays) usually includes public holidays in mainland Europe - but check locally.
Listings for other systems throughout the world - in the same format as shown below (please include date of timetable validity) - will always be welcomed.
Budapest
As at February 2019 a traveller advised the following rare curve use. It is suspected there may be others but research has not been completed.
Mester utca / Könyves Kálmán körút East to North
Infrequent journeys on route 51A
Debrecen
There are no passenger carrying unusual curves and the Depot is located at the end of a non-passenger branch west of the MAV station.
Szeged
Timetables are here and a route map including buses as at 1 October 2024 here.
Route 3F
The section from Vadaspark to Fonógyári út has no service before 07:00 or after 18:00. The reversing triangles at Vadaspark and Fonógyári út are not done in passenger service.
Rókus vasútállomás loop
This is the historic terminus of route 1 which now continues as train/trams to Hódmezövásárhely. Any tram terminating at this loop is now shown in the timetable PDF as route 1A, and as at December 2024 there are departures from Szeged MAV station at 08:35, 17:30 SSuX & 23:45 Daily. Note track layout means all inbound to Depot trams must run via this loop, but as seen below, it would appear most if not all such journeys are out of service.
Anna-kút east to north and west to north
A June 2024 traveller advises although departure screens showed mid-evening Depot journeys as route X3 or X4 to Pulz utca, these are officially not in service as they ran non-stop. Those journeys were not shown on the printed stop timetable but end of service journeys were, but it is not known if those later journeys can be travelled.
Vásárhelyi Pál útca north to south
A June 2024 traveller advises departure screens showed route X2 mid-evening Depot journeys to Pulz utca, but again they ran non-stop [and he was asked to leave the tram one stop before Pulz utca at Vásárhelyi Pál útca south], so again these journeys would appear to be officially not in service.