THE LAST M4 METROPOLIS TRAIN HAS ARRIVED IN BUDAPEST

The last metro train manufactured by ALSTOM in Katowice has arrived at the Kelenföld depot of Metro Line 4. So, testing of the fifteenth train capable of automatic operation mode along the entire line between Kelenföld Railway Station and Keleti Railway Station has begun in order that all the trains can obtain their operation licence during the autumn, and that the deadline for technical handover can be met.

As reported earlier, the manufacturer of the M4 trains showed the prototype vehicle to the Hungarian authorities at the end of November of 2012, and delivered it to Budapest in the beginning of December last year, and started testing it. Following a number of examinations, including short-circuit, coupling break and rapid voltage leap, noise, obstruction detection, and derailment sensing tests, and the endurance test, ALSTOM obtained the final type licence for the vehicle by the deadline in February 2013, and so went on to complete the manufacture all the serial trains at its Katowice plant. The testing and examination of the trains has been uninterrupted since February 2013.

That all these dates could be met had been enabled by the agreement between the Budapest Municipality and ALSTOM in July 2011, wherein the manufacturer undertook to obtain the type licence of the trains by February 2013 and to deliver the trains in Budapest by September 2013 the latest. Without this agreement, starting the Test in Traffic Operation at the end of March 2014 would not have had a chance.

As it is commonly known, ALSTOM has manufactured 15 METROPLIS trains with four cars each, capable of automatic operation mode for Metro Line 4 for a total of 76.5 million euros. Like the M2 trains, the M4 ones are open-gangway, in other words, passengers can walk up and down all along inside the trains, which enables an even passenger distribution, provides a comfortable and spacious passenger area, as well as rapid entry and exit.

For the initial first year and a half, the trains will have train attendants, but the trains will be driven not by them but the fully automatic train control. The internal supervision will be carried out by cameras and passengers informed through display units run from the control centre by expert staff. The state-of-the-art propulsion system of the vehicles recuperates electric current back into the network, enabling energy-saving operation.

Budapest Municipality
Budapest Transport Centre (BKK)
BKV Zrt. DBR Metro Project Directorate
ALSTOM Transport

Photo by Dávid Nyitrai (BKK)