Hungary is adding 93 second‑hand Swiss multiple units to its railway fleet, and several of these refurbished trains will soon appear on routes in and around Debrecen, Debrecen4U reported.
At the recent Közlekedésinfó briefing, Minister of Construction and Transport János Lázár said that MÁV’s current seating capacity of 140,000 will need to grow to around 200,000 within the next decade. To support this expansion, he confirmed that a contract was signed at the end of December for the purchase of the Swiss trains, which together will offer roughly 14,000 seats once they are upgraded and put into service.
The units—built by Stadler 15 to 20 years ago—are described as being in very good condition and suitable for another two decades of operation after refurbishment. They are expected to strengthen suburban services around Debrecen, Nyíregyháza and Miskolc.
A video showcasing the trains has since been shared on the minister’s Facebook page.
Before entering service, the trains are being prepared and later will be maintained in Szolnok. Some of them will run on the Debrecen–Záhony line. The full fleet offers 13,605 seats, with car widths of 3 metres and the longest sets reaching 53 metres. They are designed for speeds up to 140 km/h.
The trains feature padded, ergonomic seating, spacious interiors with large windows, air‑conditioning, and low noise levels. They provide low‑floor access and space for bicycles and prams, and their articulated construction ensures a smooth ride.
Lázár also noted that Hungary plans to acquire 100 new multiple units from China, which could be delivered within two to three years, along with new InterCity coaches. Some of these vehicles are expected to serve the Debrecen–Budapest route.
The briefing also highlighted the growing importance of Eastern Hungary in the automotive industry, with major production centres in Kecskemét, Debrecen and Szeged. With an estimated one million vehicles expected to be produced in the coming years—transported largely by rail—the minister stressed the need to strengthen the Miskolc–Budapest, Nyíregyháza–Budapest, Debrecen–Budapest and Szeged–Budapest rail corridors, as well as to secure an additional Danube crossing. He added that a loan from the European Investment Bank will significantly support these developments.
