The (), known in official records as , and alternatively known as , or , is a type of metro car which was manufactured by Hungarian companies ("Ganz-MÁVAG Locomotive, Carriage and Machine Factory") and ("Ganz Electric Factory"). The metro cars are articulated, 8-axle rail motor coaches with an unusual 2'Bo'Bo'2'tr axle arrangement. They are not capable of operating as electric multiple units. The cars were manufactured in Budapest between 1971 and 1973 and in 1987, and including the two prototype cars, in overall 23 units were made.
The designation resolves to ("Millennial Underground Railway"), and refers to the same phrase, as the cars were specifically designed to replace the original, turn-of-century Schlick–Siemens & Halske rolling stock of Budapest's M1 metro line, a tunnel system which requires low-height vehicles. MFAV metro cars are still in active service, although their retirement has been called for. The first car entered passenger service in 1973, thus the type is now in continuous service for years. The series carries the distinction of being an early example of fully low-floor urban rail vehicles.
Design and manufacturing
The MFAV cars are partly based on the CSMG tramcars, but the geometrical constraints of the M1 metro line forced Ganz to modify the existing design in unique ways, such as placing the electrical equipment above the articulations between the body sections to achieve a fully low-floor passenger area. Of the four bogies, the two inner Jacobs bogies are powered, while the two outer bogies are unpowered.
MFAV metro cars were produced in two main production periods, in 1971–1973 and 1987, with two prototype cars built in 1971.
Production run Production years Production numbers Fleet numbers Notes MFAV prototypes 1971 2 21–22 MFAV first batch 1971–1973 19 23–41 MFAV second batch 1987 2 42–43 originally 4 were planned
References and notes
See also
Ganz CSMG Budapest Metro Ganz Works Articulated vehicle