Fleet change has been completed on metro line 2

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The 22^nd new Alstom Metropolis metro trainset entered commercial service

Budapest, 4 June, 2013 - The 22^nd new Metropolis metro trainset entered commercial service thus completing the fleet change on metro line 2. The replacement of the metros has been part of Budapests largest vehicle procurement programme to date, valued at 65 billion HUF, of which the most significant phase has been closed today with the service entry of the last new metro train for line 2. Starting from 4 June, the old, Russian metro trainsets leave the East-West line of Budapest forever, and passengers of Budapest can travel only by the new, modern, air conditioned, 100 meters long, 5 car Metropolis trainsets manufactured by Alstom.

Within the framework of its largest vehicle procurement programme to date, Budapest purchased 110 Metropolis cars for line 2 and further 60 for line 4 approaching to its inauguration. The first new trainset on line 2 entered commercial service on 7 September, 2012, and then every month 2-3 new metros replaced the outdated Russian metros that had significant servicing need. The modern configuration and the air conditioned interior of the 100 meters long, 5 car metro trainsets contribute to the satisfaction of the passengers. Since the service entry of the first trainset, the metros manufactured by Alstom for line 2 ran 750.000 kilometers and passengers of Budapest rode them over 170 million times.

Metro history

On line 2, passenger service commenced in 1970, later in 1972 the line has been extended with 3 car metros being operated in the beginning which were manufactured by Mityisinszkij Metrovagonmas. The Russian made metros have been given the EV type label, in which the E represents Europe, while the V sands for Vengrija, Hungrary in Russian language. During 43 years, the trainsets ran about 2 billion kilometers, in other words, 14 times the distance of Earth and the Sun, and passengers of Budapest rode them 7 billion times. In the last years, the metros carried nearly 500.000 passengers a day.

I would like to thank to the management of the capital the successful cooperation which allowed the service entry of the new metros on line 2 and soon on line 4, in correspondence with the agreement signed by Mayor István Tarlós and CEO Patrick Kron in 2011 said Mr. Zoltán Gallatz, Customer Director of Alstom Transport. The comfort of the new Metropolis metros will be enjoyed by the passengers for decades on line 2, line 4 the director added.

Ordered by the Municipality of Budapest, BKK, BKV and Alstom, GfK Public opinion and Market Research Institute surveyed the opinion of passengers about the new metros by questioning 500 people. The research revealed that 97% of the passengers find the designated areas for prams and wheelchairs one of the most favourable feature of the new metros. 93% of those surveyed thinks that the quiet operation of the metros is advantageous. 90% of the passengers like the aesthetical exterior and spacious interior of the trains. The central handrails are liked by 70% of the passengers, while 69% of metro travelers find the seats comfortable and well separated. Altogether 9 out of 10 passenger are satisfied with the new trainsets.

Alstom metros in the world

Alstom has been manufacturing metros since 70 years. One in four metros currently in service around the world is manufactured by Alstom. The Metropolis product family is a 10 year old, technically mature construction. Alstom sold over 4.000 Metropolis metro cars in cities like Barcelona, Warsaw, Singapore, Shanghai, Nanjing, Buenos Aires, Santiago de Chile and Santo Domingo but Alstom metros also operate in London, Paris and New York. Alstom designed and built the worlds longest automated metro line, the 40 kilometers long Circle Line in Singapore too.

Following the successful fleet change on metro line 2, Alstom is focusing on the delivery and service entry of metro 4 vehicles within the deadline. The manufacturer has already obtained the Type License of the 4 car metro trainsets from the National Transportation Authority. Out of the 15 metros capable of running in automated mode as well, 6 have been delivered to Budapest and 3 already have obtained the Operation License. The remaining 9 metro trains are being continuously delivered and tested in the tunnel of line 4 by Alstom. The objective of Budapest, BKK, BKV and Alstom is to launch commercial service of line 4 in the first half of 2014.