The IC+ carriages of MÁV-START Ltd. completed by the end of last summer are scheduled to set off to Switzerland in March for their final test consisting of the outdoor noise testing of the passing carriages. So far the carriages have successfully completed various measurements, run and brake tests, as well as noise tests performed indoors and at a standstill. Before the final test today the representatives of the press had the opportunity to participate in a test run.
As Mr János Fónagy, Minister of State for National Development said at the press conference the present Government made it clear from the very beginning that the railway was considered by them not only as a company, but as one of the most important pillars of Hungary’s economy and society.
'Our aim is to further develop the quality of rail transport and travel conditions. For this purpose, during the transformation of the Hungarian railway company MÁV, by eliminating parallelism and introducing cost efficient technology developments the company’s debt has been successfully reduced by over HUF 60 billion. Another significant step along this process is the development of the IC+ carriages in Hungary. By the serial production of the carriages almost two hundred new jobs could be created, which would also be available for disabled individuals.’
As Mr Csaba Ungvári, Chief Executive Officer of MÁV-START emphasized, the IC+ carriages have been essentially produced for domestic InterCity transport, as well as international EuroCity trains, in which case the allowed speed of 200 km/h could be well utilised in relation to Germany and Austria. The results of the tests completed so far are promising, and there is only the final outdoor noise test to be performed. Following the tests the certification process will take place, with the National Transport Authority to issue the type certificate and the certificate of release to regular service. Decision about the serial production of the IC+ carriages will be made following the completion of the full testing and assessment process in a few months.
The prototypes of the IC+ carriages had been completed by the end of last summer, followed by a series of mandatory tests. In order to receive the certificate of release to service the requirements of the TSI system applied by the European Union must be fulfilled by completing the modules relevant for the particular carriage type. These complex and thorough tests guarantee that only carriages ensuring the safety and comfort of passengers will be released to service. So far the vehicle has been tested in Austria under extreme conditions, with the heating and air conditioning, as well as the air humidity and temperature on board of the carriages measured by experts simulating extreme external effects. These tests were followed by the brake and running gear type tests in Austria where the brake system and the running gear have been tested along several tracks and under various speed conditions, e.g. by utilising the maximum 220 km/h speed of the carriages.
The final test to be completed will be the outdoor noise test of the passing train to take place in Switzerland in March when the carriages will be once more equipped with the measuring instruments for testing the vehicle over several days. The documents of all the tests performed and assessed by independent bodies will be made available to MÁV-START. The experts of the railway company have also been present and participating in the testing, thus helping the whole process.
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Background information
The IC+ carriages were manufactured by MÁV-START Ltd. at the Szolnok Rail Vehicle Repair Workshop, and the prototype was fully developed in Hungary by Hungarian engineers. The carriages are air conditioned and equipped with a GPS-driven audiovisual passenger information system. Inside the carriages electric sockets for mobile devices, phones and laptops are available along with free WiFi and an internal video surveillance system. The energy supply system of the carriages is a so called five current type system allowing the trains to be operated along the standard European gauge tracks.
The total cost of the IC+ project amounted to HUF 1.4 billion of which HUF 462 million was provided for MÁV-GÉPÉSZET Ltd. from EU assistance. The HUF 1.4 billion includes the costs of own design, the manufacturing of the two prototypes, the required equipment and instruments and the infrastructural investments which facilitate the preparation of the railway company for serial production.
(Ministry of National Development)
