Thurbo GTWs will be used in Hungary
posted on 12th Jan 2026 15:42
Thurbo's current GTW (Gelenktriebwagen) EMUs have been in service for approximately 25 years. Thurbo will replace them between 2026 and 2034 with 107 new FLIRT Evo trains.
Thurbo's GTW fleet comprises a total of 110 units. 82 ones were acquired between 2002 and 2008, a further 15 were purchased in 2012 - 2013, and an additional 13 GTWs were acquired from SBB in 2017 - 2018. At the time of decommissioning, each of these vehicles will have covered approximately 5 million km and undergone multiple overhauls designed to cover a 25-year service life. These overhauls included replacing the motor bogies, renewing the flooring, refurbishing the ventilation and air conditioning systems, and repainting the bodyshels.
The MÁV will have an additional need for rolling stock in the coming years and have expressed interest in purchasing used vehicles. Following extensive investigations into the procurement process, conversion requirements, and the criteria for re-certrification in Hungary, Stadler has submitted an offer to Thurbo for the purchase of 93 GTWs. The two companies have agreed to keep the purchase price confidential. Stadler will take over the vehicles in stages between 2027 and 2034 and will completely refurbish and convert them to meet the MÁV needs.
The sale of most of Thurbo's GTW fleet to Stadler, followed by conversion and resale to MÁV, offers advantages for all parties involved. Instead of Thurbo recycling individual vehicle components in a costly project, Stadler is giving the GTWs a second life and thus ensuring their continued ecologically and financially sustainable use. The money from the sale of Thurbo's trains will be fully reinvested in regional passenger transport in Switzerland, thereby reducing subsidies from the federal and cantonal governments and relieving the burden on public finances.
In 2021, Thurbo ordered 107 new FLIRT Evo trains, because the GTWs no longer fully meet the current requirements of passengers with reduced mobility. They also no longer fully satisfy the increasing demands for customer information and passenger comfort (dynamic passenger information, seating configurations, larger multi-purpose areas).
Continuing to operate the GTW fleet in Switzerland would entail costly overhauls and modifications. Some components of the vehicle architecture and control systems would need to be replaced. It is expected that the trains would have to undergo a new approval process and obtain a new certification. Due to the economies of scale achieved through the joint procurement of the large number of FLIRT Evos with SBB and RegionAlps, the new acquisition is more economical and customer-oriented for Thurbo.