Crime and Urban Life

Yesterday I went to take some photos of the HÉV, the suburban rail. I was quite astonished when I saw a suburban rail carriage on the train platform. I just couldn’t understand how on earth did it get there. They are not easily moveable I guess, and I don’t know about any link between the suburban rail and international railway lines.

Then I noticed a large group of people. I went closer to take a look, and I realised that the police was also there. They were standing in front of a small bakery. Whether they were investigating a crime or they were just hungry, I don’t know. However, crime is an inseparable part of urban life.

The Western Railway Station

This is Budapest’s first railway station. It was designed by August de Serres and built by the Eiffel company. It opened in 1877. It provides connection to tram 4 and 6 on the Boulevard, including access to Buda via Margit Bridge.

The busiest line in the country leads to Szolnok. Trains are usually crowded with people, who go to work day to day. When I go to school, my route always includes the Western Railway Station, where I could take these photos of the station, trains and the people who are commuters just like me.

I love being a commuter...

It was a cold and bitter day, when I went to take some photos. Snow was falling like feathers from a giant’s pillow. It was beautiful but most pictures are awful. By the end of the day I felt I was freezing. It was a relief to get on the train and go home at last. I was about to get on the train when someone touched my shoulder and informed me that I was about to get on the wrong train. It was the same controller I had seen many times before. He smiled warmly and pointed at the right train on the next platform.

The carriage was warm and friendly. An old lady carried a heavy suitcase and a younger guy helped him to put it on the luggage rack. I felt warm which did not come from the heating system only but also from people's hearts. :)

The Urban Life Team

Hi Everyone,

We are the Urban Life Team and we would like to present Budapest as a growing city. We thought we would take photos at railway stations and underground lines.

We would also like to capture different types of buildings (old and new), construction sites and the crowd. We hope we can achieve our aim in the project and it will be a good fun for all of us.