Today, Ministry of National Development, MÁV-START and Stadler have presented to the public one of the two new FLIRTs at the Kápolnásnyék railway station that have arrived to Hungary recently. The first multiple unit will operate expectedly in autumn this year, following the strict technical and authority testing and licensing period. The 42 new FLIRTs that are due to arrive until autumn 2015 are going to operate on the suburban railways of Budapest. The new trains offer state-of-the-art travelling conditions, while their operation saves billions of HUF energy to the railway company on a yearly basis.
The first two vehicles of the 42 FLIRT units have arrived from Switzerland to Hungary so the domestic static and dynamic tests could start under the supervision of the National Transport Authority. MÁV-START can launch the commercial operation of the 61st and the 62nd FLIRTs after obtaining the operational permit. The blue-white-yellow-grey colored trains can firstly be used by passengers travelling on the Székesfehérvár line. The first vehicle was introduced to the public and the representatives of media on 19 March 2014 at Kápolnásnyék, exactly one year after signing the delivery contract.
Lászlóné Németh, Minister of National Development said: ’The Orbán-government made it clear in 2010 that it is committed to public transport and railway developments in accordance with the policy in the European Union and worldwide. In the last three years the developments covered 460 km lines on MÁV Zrt.’s railway system and there are expansions and developments on further 500 km currently. With the operation of the convenient multiple units, every requirement is given that more and more people choose the services of railways, in addition a well-functioning and competitive railway can be created in Hungary.’
Ilona Dávid, Chairperson and CEO of MÁV Zrt. added: ’The renovated Kápolnásnyék station and the new multiple units are excellent examples of that responsible, forward-looking way of thinking that has described the attitude towards railway in Hungary in the recent years. The supportive transport policy of the recent period has established the development of railway transport as well as the predictable and stable operation and the continual improving of standards and quality. Renewing railway system, modern ticket-sales, good parking facilities, clock-face scheduling, trains of high standard, quality service. These are what we are aiming at MÁV through the country and now we are able to provide such service on even more and more lines.’
Csaba Ungvári, CEO of MÁV-START highlighted: ’The new vehicles are going to operate on the Budapest-Székesfehérvár, Budapest-Pusztaszabolcs, Budapest-Szob, Budapest-Veresegyház- Vác, Budapest-Cegléd-Szolnok and after the finishing of electrification on the Budapest-Esztergom lines. Almost the two-third of the trains will be covered by FLIRTs in the suburbs of Budapest. This way, we can serve the quarter of the journeys which mean 34 millions of travelings by modern multiple units. The already operating FLIRTs are very popular among passengers: where these vehicles operate the number of passengers has risen by 6-12%.’
Zoltán Dunai, Country Manager of Stadler Hungary Ltd. stated: ’With the contract signed last year 112 FLIRTs are going to operate from the autumn of 2015 on the lines of Hungary. The procurement is a significant milestone not for MÁV and GYSEV but also for Stadler, because this is going to be the largest homogenous FLIRT fleet in the world. We are proud that we carry on playing an important role in the development of Hungarian railway. FLIRT multiple unit is the bestselling product of Stadler, there have been orders for producing almost 950 multiple units from 15 countries.’
Press Release of MÁV-START Zrt., 19 March 2014
