Stadler has celebrated the completed production of the first of 11 FLIRT InterCity electric multiple units for GYSEV Ltd.
Production of the unit was carried out at Stadler’s facility in Siedlce, Poland, and the newly-built train was presented to the management of GYSEV and Hungary’s Minister of Transport and Investments, Dávid Vitézy.
Completion of the first unit marks a key milestone in a project that will see GYSEV’s new InterCity fleet gradually enter service from 2027 onwards.
The procurement of 11 FLIRT electric multiple units stands as the first acquisition of rolling stock specifically designed for InterCity services in Hungary for three decades, rendering it a significant milestone in the wider modernisation of the country’s railway transport system.
Dávid Vitézy, Minister of Transport and Investments for Hungary, said:This project marks a major milestone in the development of Hungary’s long-distance rail network.
These are the first InterCity trains in Hungary to be fully accessible to passengers with disabilities and equipped with an advanced end-to-end CCTV system, significantly enhancing passenger safety. This investment not only modernizes GYSEV’s fleet, but also sets a new benchmark for the entire Hungarian InterCity network.
It is particularly significant in light of Hungary’s plans to procure additional InterCity electric multiple units (EMUs) for the lines operated by MÁV. I am convinced that this is an important first step that will help improve the quality of passenger services on the Budapest–Győr–Szombathely and Budapest–Győr–Sopron routes.
Following the completion of both final assembly and required inspection processes, the first vehicle was presented to the delegation whilst work continues on all remaining units in the fleet.
Each of the modern trainsets will feature both first- and second-class accommodation, air conditioning, low-floor passenger areas, and a brand-new passenger information system. Long-distance services will offer use of a dedicated bistro area, and a flexible interior layout will allow for adaptation to seasonal demand, including space for up to 18 bicycles during the summer season.
Additional passenger amenities will include USB-C chargers, Wi-Fi connection, and holders for both tablets and smartphones.
The next phase of the project will focus on a series of a comprehensive tests of the vehicles, with trial runs set to be conducted in Romania, the Czech Republic and Hungary.
Once all trainsets have acquired necessary regulatory approvals, the units are expected to begin entering passenger service in 2027. The five-car, dual-system electric multiple units will be used on GYSEV’s InterCity services on the Sopron–Budapest and Szombathely–Budapest routes and will also operate in Austria.
The full fleet of 11 vehicles is expected to be in service by the summer of 2028, with all units set to be manufactured at Stadler Polska’s production facility in Siedlce, which has delivered a total of 35 FLIRT trains to Hungarian customers: 20 units for GYSEV and 15 units for MÁV. In total, 195 Stadler rail vehicles are currently in operation in Hungary, including 40 double-deck KISS trains and 12 Citylink vehicles.
