Stadler Completes Final Design of GYSEV FLIRT IC

Stadler has revealed the final design of 11 new FLIRT InterCity electric multiple units (EMUs) for GYSEV Zrt, with car body production now scheduled to begin this autumn in Szolnok, Hungary.

Delivery of the first unit is expected in late 2027, with the remainder entering service by early 2028.

The new trains were ordered in March 2024, marking the first procurement of intercity EMUs in Hungary in three decades. The vehicles are intended for use on GYSEV’s Sopron–Budapest and Szombathely–Budapest routes.

The five-car, dual-voltage units will operate in both Hungary and Austria, supporting cross-border services. Designed for a maximum speed of 160 km/h, the trains will offer first- and second-class seating, with a seasonal seating configuration: additional seats will be installed in winter, while up to 18 bicycle spaces will be available in summer.

Facilities on board will include air conditioning, low-floor access, passenger information displays, luggage racks, and a bistro area with vending machines. Each seat will be fitted with a charging socket and USB-C port, along with Wi-Fi and phone holders, reflecting demand for digital connectivity.

The exterior will be finished in silver with GYSEV’s green and yellow branding, while the interior will feature grey metal, glass elements, and brown and oak-coloured finishes. The design was developed jointly by GYSEV, Stadler and the Innova Design Team.

GYSEV already operates 20 Stadler FLIRT units purchased between 2013 and 2018. The new fleet differs from those earlier acquisitions by being adapted for longer-distance services.

Szilárd Kövesdi, CEO of GYSEV Zrt said:

The 11 new InterCity trains will differ in many ways from the regional EMUs purchased previously: the vehicles are optimised for longer journeys, thus perfectly meeting the 21st-century requirements expected in long-distance transport. Thanks to the experts at GYSEV and Stadler, passengers can look forward to an elegant and modern exterior and interior design.

As part of the order, 55 car bodies will be manufactured at Stadler’s Szolnok facility, which has previously supplied components for international FLIRT projects. The plant has contributed to the production of nearly 1,000 FLIRT trains worldwide.

Once the new units are delivered, there will be 200 Stadler-built vehicles operating in Hungary, including fleets run by both GYSEV and MÁV.

Dr. Róbert Homolya, chairman of Stadler Trains Hungary said:

After a long time, our car body plant in Szolnok is once again producing trains for the Hungarian market. As part of the current order, a total of 55 FLIRT IC car bodies are being built in Szolnok for GYSEV, with production starting at this autumn. The handover of trains, will mean that there are 200 Stadler-built vehicles in Hungary. Our rolling stock is already the backbone of rail transport in our country, and one in two passengers travels on Stadler trains.