STADLER inaugurated a €9·6m maintenance facility at Pusztaszabolcs to the southwest of Budapest last month. The depot will eventually employ around 100 people, who will be responsible for maintaining 30 Flirt EMUs being supplied to state rail operator MÁV for use on services from Budapest to Tatabánya, Székesfehérvár and Pusztaszabolcs (RG 9.05 p530).
Managing Director of Stadler Magyarorszag, Zoltan Dunai, said the facility is expected to produce annual revenue of up to HF2bn from 2008. Stadler has now delivered the first four of the 30 four-car 25 kV EMUs ordered by MÁV at a cost of SFr235m, with the remainder expected to be completed by March 2008. Stadler Deputy Chief Executive Jurg Gygax told guests at the inauguration that the company would make a decision on whether to move some of its assembly activities to Hungary if MÁV exercises an option to buy a further 30 EMUs.
- On May 3 Stadler advised the 80 staff at its Weiden factory in Bayern that unless new orders are received shortly the plant is likely to close when work on current projects is competed this summer.
