The new 1435mm gauge coaches must be suitable for speeds of 200km/h and equipped with a multi-voltage 1000V/1.5kV dc power supply for cross-border operation.
In addition, the coaches must be equipped with retention toilets, at least two places per sleeping coach for wheelchair users, heating and air conditioning, and come with sufficient parts for maintenance.
The deadline for submitting bids is July 20, with the first batch of 15 planned for delivery by December 31, 2020. Additionally, the coaches must have a scheduled overhaul date of no later than December 15. MÁV’s rapid timetable for tendering is intended to take advantage of the increased availability of second-hand rolling stock caused by the fall in traffic since the coronavirus pandemic.
The coaches will supplement MÁV’s existing fleet of 33 couchette and sleeping coaches, which are unsuitable for international use. The coaches will operate on overnight services planned for 2021 between the Hungarian cities of Budapest and Brasov and destinations in Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. In addition, MÁV plans to use the vehicles for summer services to the Adriatic Sea, and as special coaches on western European routes.
MÁV is in the process of building a further 50 IC+ coaches for conventional services at its Szolnok workshops, following a previous batch of 20 coaches built by the company for international operation. It is also seeking to purchase up to 200 second-hand coaches for non-intercity services to replace MÁV’s older coaches, including its fleet of 300 DB Halberstadt coaches, purchased second-hand in 2006-07, which are reaching the end of their useful life.
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