Before the invention of its electrical version, public trains meant steam or horse-powered urban railway systems. Even though the steam-powered trains were used in many cities, because of their loudness and heavy smoke, citizens did not really like them. Their horse-drawn version, however, was more appealing and several tracks were installed in Budapest. Naturally, with this animal-drawn vehicle, numerous hygienic and scenic problems appeared, so it is no coincidence that the plans for such a track on Andrássy Avenue were voted against by the Ministry.

On public roads, the first types of public transportation had already appeared in 1832 as omnibuses of János Kratochwill, which carried passengers from the Park to the Danube. Kratochwill was an innkeeper, who had two cafés, and that is why he requested the City to let him run his public omnibuses every 30 minutes between 6AM and 6PM. They were roofed completely, but alsoabove the side seats, and were manufactured in local guilds by masters. Tarps were used when it rained; the side of the coach the back of the seats as well. Their floors were covered, the sides were varnished, and two horses pulled the spring-stretched coaches. They could carry 8 to 14 people at the same time. They had no bus-stops whatsoever, and passengers could request a stop anytime.