MÁV‘KISS’815 001 stabled at Dunakeszi on August 18 while on test.Revenue operation began on August 24 on the Budapest to Szob route.
DLANGHAM
HUNGARIAN nationaloperator MÁV-Starthas introduced the first of 40 new six-car Stadler ‘KISS’double-deck EMUs. Thetrains have been ordered in batches since2017 and will be used to operate regional trains on the routes from Budapest to Ceglédand Szolnok, plus the Budapest-Vác-Szob route, in both cases replacing loco-hauled trains. Thetrains arebuilt to Stadler’s widely used‘KISS’ designand arebeing assembled in Hungaryatthe former MÁVworkshops at Dunakeszi, north of Budapest, which has been owned by Russian rail engineering firm Transmashholding since2020. Thecar body shells are produced at Stadler’s factory near Minsk,inBelarus,while the bogies aremadeatStadler’s Hungarian factory in Szolnok. Thecoronavirus lockdown from Marchdelayedthe large-scale entryintoservice, immediately afterthe official launch of the new trains.