The first KISS unit (the acronym means ‘comfortable, innovative, sprint-capable suburban train’) produced by Stadler for Hungarian state railway company MAV has been ‘ceremonially’ rolled out in Dunakeszi; it will now start the necessary type tests required for commercial operation.

According to the agreement between MAV and Stadler (www.stadlerrail.com), this first unit — together with 10 more — will start commercial service from February 2020 on the suburban railway lines linking Budapest with Vác and Cegléd.

"Eight more double-deckers are due to be added at the beginning of 2021, meaning that these suburban lines will be served completely by modern electric trains.

“The arrival of these trains will open a new chapter in the passenger transport service of Hungary’s railways; the double-deckers “will shorten journey times and stabilise the timetable”.

MAV and Stadler signed a frame agreement in 2017 for the delivery of up to 40 units, which can be “exercised in the form of different delivery contracts in the following eight years”.

To date, MÁV has ordered 19 units from the 40 available.

The 156m-long, 2.8m-wide and 4.6m-high multiple units will consist of six coaches and accommodate 600 passengers — 50% more than a single-decker of the same length.

The trains will be equipped with EVM and ETCS Level 2 train control systems, allowing them to run at a top speed of 160kph.