FIRST 36 FLIRT-TYPE ELECTRIC TRAINS FOR MÁV-START EQUIPPED WITH ALSTOM’S ETCS LEVEL 2 TRAIN CONTROL SYSTEM

Alstom, a global leader in smart and sustainable mobility, has reached an important milestone in the fleet modernisation project of the Flirt-type electric trains of MÁV-START - with European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 2, designed to increase the speed and safety.

The first 36 of 59 units have received the market authorisation license and are now back in passenger traffic equipped by Alstom’s Atlas ETCS Level 2 L2 train control equipment that meets the strict European requirements. The entire project is scheduled for completion in September 2023, following a certification procedure involving extensive testing and verifications.

The primary purpose of the European Train Control System (ETCS) is to monitor the movement of trains and enhance the safety of rail traffic in various operational situations. The enhanced ETCS Level 2 provides continuous monitoring via GSM-R (the rail version of GSM).

Ultimately, ETCS Level 2 system improves traffic efficiency by allowing upgraded trains to circulate at higher speeds on lines where the track conditions allow, such as the Budapest-Székesfehérvár line, thus increasing the speed to a maximum of 160 km/h, compared to the previous speed of 120 km/h.