MÀV new locomotive and NMU tender

[Stephen Lee]

Unclear fate of Vectrons for MÁV-START

In April 2022, MÁV-START and Siemens Mobility signed a framework agreement for the delivery of 115 Vectron locomotives.

www.railvolution.net

In April 2022, MÁV-START and Siemens Mobility signed a framework agreement for 115 Vectron locomotives, with deliveries scheduled to start in 2024. However, the implementation of this contract now appears to be in jeopardy. In mid-May 2023, János Lázár, the Minister of Construction and Transport, announced that the Hungarian government would "end its friendship with Siemens", which puts the delivery of the locomotives in doubt.

The Vectrons would thus suffer the same fate as the intended acquisition of non-traction units based on railjets, for which the MÁV-START tender was cancelled in December 2022, again due to lack of funding.

If MÀV is not going to order Siemens products anymore, should MÀV choose Alstom for new locos and Talgo for NMUs?

 

[43096]

Unclear fate of Vectrons for MÁV-START

In April 2022, MÁV-START and Siemens Mobility signed a framework agreement for the delivery of 115 Vectron locomotives.

www.railvolution.net

If MÀV is not going to order Siemens products anymore, should MÀV choose Alstom for new locos and Talgo for NMUs?

Interesting to note that in the meantime MÁV have taken on lease 15 ES64U2 “Taurus” locos from Akiem.

 

[Austriantrain]

Interesting to note that in the meantime MÁV have taken on lease 15 ES64U2 “Taurus” locos from Akiem.

It might really be a lack of funds, as mentioned in the article in the first posting. Leasing avoids major upfront payments.

Blocked EU funds and a dismal economic situation are starting to bite, from what I read.

 

[43096]

It might really be a lack of funds, as mentioned in the article in the first posting. Leasing avoids major upfront payments.

Blocked EU funds and a dismal economic situation are starting to bite, from what I read.

I tend to agree - there's been a reticence to confirm firm orders out of the framework contract, which is unusual - and wrap in some politics as well as a convenient excuse.

 

[nwales58]

Bashing Germany is extremely good politically in Hungary (and has been for over a century), the surprise is that they had a framework contract for Vectrons in the first place rather than buying Polish, Russian or Chinese, the latter preferably on a soft loan.

Although infrastructure and operations are separate, capital spending seems to be problem generally at present. There is the soap opera of the rebuilding of Budapest-Tatabanya (on Budapast-Wien) which MAV was postponing. Another one on the Chinese-financed upgrade of the line to Serbia where work by both the PM's friend's construction companies and the Chinese was suspended last autumn.

 

[43096]

Bashing Germany is extremely good politically in Hungary (and has been for over a century), the surprise is that they had a framework contract for Vectrons in the first place rather than buying Polish, Russian or Chinese, the latter preferably on a soft loan.

The problem they have is that if they want to run cross-border (which they do), then it would likely take years for Polish/Russian/Chinese locos to be cleared. Even if you go to Alstom, the locos are still German built and have had major software issues in recent years. So the best/least risk choice is to buy from Siemens, as the Vectron already has the necessary approvals.

 

[nwales58]

Note it was the minister, not the railway, saying no more Siemens.

Westbahn have CRRC units on order, how close to full approval are they? OTOH Leo Express scrubbed their CRRC order after a set reached Velim.

Certification is part of the problems with the Chinese line upgrade, I read somewhere. Apparently it was to be Chinese ETCS-alike, only much later realising that it could not be certified as ETCS so ETCS-equipped stock could not be used. Anyone know more? I don't read Hungarian.