Stadler built its 6,000th bodyshell in Hungary
posted on 4th Nov 2025 08:18
On 30 October 2025, Stadler's bodyshell factory in Szolnok has reached another important milestone: the 6,000th body left the works in October. Operating since 2009, the factory has become the Stadler Group's largest bodyshell manufacturing centre in Central and Eastern Europe and plays a key role in the international manufacturing and supply network.
The development of the Szolnok factory is remarkable. The plant, originally designed to produce 200 bodies annually and employ 200 people, has grown over the past 15 years to become one of the most modern railway vehicle manufacturing facilities in the Central and Eastern European region. Stadler has invested a total of 200 million EUR in the Szolnok plant to date, where, thanks to the latest developments, the production of double-deck bodyshells has started in late 2024, creating further jobs in the region.
In October 2025, employees at the plant celebrated the production and delivery of the 6,000th bodyshell. This milestone not only marks a peak in production, but also the beginning of a new chapter. The next batch of bodyshells manufactured in Szolnok will include those for the GYSEV FLIRT InterCity trains. The first ones are expected to be delivered in the last quarter of 2027, with the entire fleet entering service by early 2028. The five-car, dual-voltage units will be able to operate not only in Hungary but also in Austria. The order is of particular significance: Hungary last purchased new InterCity trains 30 years ago.
Trains equipped with bodyshells from the Szolnok works currently operate in 14 countries, including the United States, Great Britain, Spain, Italy, Norway, Germany, and the Netherlands. MÁV and GYSEV currently operate 143 FLIRT and 40 KISS EMUs, as well as 12 Citylink tram-trains. These vehicles travel around 35 million kilometers per year - one-third of MÁV's total annual mileage.