Stadler has signed a contract to comprehensively modernise 93 second-hand GTW multiple units from Switzerland and resell them to Hungarian State Railways (MÁV), in a deal pitched as a fast-track capacity boost for the country’s struggling regional rail network.
Under the agreement, announced in Budapest on 12 January, Stadler will acquire the articulated GTW trains from Swiss regional operator Thurbo, refurbish them, and deliver them to MÁV in batches between 2027 and 2034. Once in service, the fleet is expected to provide around 14,000 additional passenger seats, with comfort levels comparable to Hungary’s existing Stadler FLIRT trains.
The project formalises a procurement process that began last autumn, when MÁV launched a tender for 93 refurbished second-hand Stadler GTWs. That tender set out requirements for the delivery, conversion and certification of the trains for operation on Hungary’s 25 kV network, part of a larger bid for the Hungarian government to get regional transport back on track amid public upset over ageing fleets and creaking rail bureaucracy.
Refit scope and industrial plan
Stadler will carry out a full conversion and life-extension programme to bring the GTWs into line with MÁV’s operational and regulatory requirements. Each train will undergo a refurbishment process lasting around 12 weeks, covering both technical systems and passenger-facing equipment.
The trains will be converted for operation on Hungary’s 25 kV electrified network and equipped with a new passenger information system and onboard video surveillance. Sliding steps will be adapted to Hungarian platform heights, and drivers will receive a new onboard computer. In terms of signalling and safety, the fleet will be fitted with a combined Mirel and ETCS Baseline 4 train protection system. Externally, the units will be refoiled in MÁV corporate colours, while interiors will be refreshed with new seat covers as part of the overhaul.
Prototype conversions are being built in Switzerland, while Stadler is also setting up a service facility in Hungary to support the serial refurbishment programme. The company presents the project as a repeatable model, combining fleet acquisition, modernisation and resale to extend the service life of relatively young multiple units.
Swiss trains, Hungarian politics
Beyond the technical scope, the arrival of refurbished Swiss-built trains carries a certain level of political and symbolic significance in Hungary. The prospect of acquiring rolling stock from Switzerland — often cited domestically as a benchmark for reliability and punctuality — has been repeatedly highlighted by transport minister János Lázár as part of a wider effort to modernise MÁV amid persistent public dissatisfaction with rail performance.
In early 2025, Lázár spoke of a “serious chance” that Hungary would purchase Swiss multiple units, presenting the move as a way to rapidly improve passenger experience while deeper structural problems remained unresolved. Since then, rail reliability has remained a sensitive issue, with delays, ageing infrastructure and constrained investment under scrutiny ahead of elections set for this year.