Alstom Hungary for metro business

BKV, the Budapest public transport operator, has awarded the Alstom-led Budapest Metropolis Consortium a contract for the supply of 170 Metropolis metro cars. Alstom’s share represents approximately 90 per cent of the €247 million order.

The agreement includes additional provision for the maintenance of the vehicles for a three-year period as well as an option for a further 28 cars. Alstom’s local partner is Ganz Transelektro Traction Electrics.

Budapest was the first city in continental Europe to inaugurate an electrically powered metro in 1896. Since then, the network has been extended to three lines covering 31 km with 78 stations. Now it is being further extended with a fourth 7.3 km line linking the south-west of the city to a future central railway station, due to open in 2009. The construction of yet another 3.2 km extension towards the northeast of the city has been planned for the next three years.