More KISS EMUs For MÁV-START

Hungarian state owned passenger operator MÁV-START and Stadler have signed the contract for 21 KISS EMUs worth around 313 million EUR. This contract is the fruit from the April 2017 framework contract awarded by MÁV-START to Stadler for up to 40 KISSes, the initial order being for 11, with a further eight ordered in December 2018. According to the delivery schedule, the 40th unit has to be delivered by the end of 2022.

Assembly of the first 19 EMUs is taking place at Fanipol (Minsk) and Dunakeszi works. In the second half of July 2019 the first two KISSes left Dunakeszi for type testing: 815 001 was sent to VUZ Velim, and 815 002 to DB’s test centre at Minden. The KISSes of the first batch on order are scheduled to be put in service in February 2020, on suburban services from Budapest to Vác and Cegléd, and are to be joined by the next eight in early 2021, resulting in all services on these routes being operated using Class 815s. This will enable enhanced timetables to be introduced, with reduced journey times. Already on 3 September 2019 Stadler and MÁV-START signed a preliminary agreement for delivery of the remaining 21 KISSes from the framework contract. However this came not in force at that time, because the operator had to secure first the financing.

The 160 km/h, six-car Class 815s are 155,880 mm long, 2,800 mm wide and 4,600 mm high above rail top. They are fitted with 600 seats (around 50 % more compared to a single-deck EMU of the same length), and are equipped with one wheelchair accessible and three standard-sized WC cubicles. Multi-purpose areas will be provided, with space for up to four wheelchair, 12 bikes or five prams. Fully air conditioned, the trains will be characterised by a very smooth ride, the spaciousness of their passenger accommodation, and a state-of-the-art passenger information system. Free WiFi reception will be available. The Hungarian domestic ATP, EVM, will be installed, as will ETCS Level 2, in readiness for when wayside ETCS becomes available on the Hungarian rail network, making the new trains able to run at a top speed of 160 km/h on the modernised lines of Hungary.