Ganz MFAV

The Ganz MFAV (Hungarian: [ˈɡɒnz ˈɛmfɒv]), known in official BKV records as Mfav., and alternatively known as FAV,[lower-alpha 4] or MillFAV,[lower-alpha 5] is a type of metro car which was manufactured by Hungarian companies Ganz-MÁVAG Mozdony-, Vagon- és Gépgyár ("Ganz-MÁVAG Locomotive, Carriage and Machine Factory") and Ganz Villamossági Gyár ("Ganz Electric Factory"). The MFAV 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.

Ganz MFAV
(FAV, MillFAV, Mfav.)
MFAV motor coach no. 32 in the Mexikói Road depot in 2009
Interior of an MFAV motor coach in 2011
In service1973–present
(47–48 years)
Manufacturerunderframe, bogies and carbody:
Ganz-MÁVAG Mozdony-, Vagon- és Gépgyár
Budapest,  Hungary
traction system:
Ganz Villamossági Gyár
Budapest,  Hungary
ReplacedSchlickSiemens & Halske motor coaches
Constructedprototypes:
1971
regular cars:
1971–1973,
1987
Entered service1973
(48 years ago)
Refurbished1996
Number built23
Number in service23
FormationMC[lower-alpha 1] only
Fleet numbersprototypes:
21–22
regular cars:
23–43
Capacity189 passengers overall,[lower-alpha 2]
48 seats
Operator(s)Budapesti Közlekedési Vállalat (BKV),
Budapest,  Hungary
(1973–now)
Depot(s)Mexikói Road depot
Line(s) servedM1 metro line, Budapest
Specifications
Car body constructionSteel
Car lengthcarbody:
29,560 mm (97 ft 0 in)
between couplers:
30,370 mm (99 ft 8 in)
Width2,350 mm (7 ft 9 in)
Height2,590 mm (8 ft 6 in)
Floor height470 mm (1 ft 7 in)
Entrylevel
Doorssliding doors
6 per side,
2-2-2-2-2-2
Articulated sectionstwo
Wheel diameter670 mm (2 ft 2 in)
Wheelbase1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in),
1,800 mm (5 ft 11 in)
Maximum speed50 km/h (31 mph)
(currently)
60 km/h (37 mph)
(originally)
Weight36,960 kg (40.74 short tons)
Axle load8,650 kg (9.53 short tons)
Traction system4 × Ganz TK 44A
Power output4 × 66.5 kW (89.1 hp)
(=266 kW (357 hp))
Auxiliaries24 V DC
Train heatingnone
Electric system(s)600 V DC from overhead line
Current collection methodelectropneumatically operated pantograph
UIC classification2'Bo'Bo'2'tr[lower-alpha 3]
Bogiespivoting
Braking system(s)electric brakes,
Knorr-Bremse BH air brakes
Safety system(s)train event recorder
Coupling systemmechanical:
Alemann-type trichterkupplung
Multiple workingno
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8 12 in)

The MFAV designation resolves to Millenniumi Földalatti Vasút ("Millennial Underground Railway"), FAV and MillFAV refers to the same phrase, as the cars were specifically designed to replace the original, turn-of-century SchlickSiemens & 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 47–48 years. The series carries the distinction of being an early example of fully low-floor urban rail vehicles, and also of having an overhead wire system instead of a third rail for current collection despite being designated as metro vehicles.

Design and manufacturing

The MFAV cars are 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 moving the electric subsystems into the articulations between the body sections to achieve fully low-floor vehicles. From the four bogies of the cars, the inner two are driven, which, due to the weight distribution over the bogies, gives the vehicles better traction dynamics.

Eventually MFAV metro cars were produced in two production runs, these are shown in the following table.

Production runProduction yearsProduction numbersFleet numbersNotes
MFAV prototypes1971221–22
MFAV first batch1971–19731923–41
MFAV second batch1987242–43originally 4 were planned

References and notes

  1. MC stands for motor coach
  2. assuming 5 passengers/m²
  3. the UIC axle arrangement classification appendix "tr" officially denotes a tram vehicle
  4. FAV: [fɒv]
  5. MillFAV: [ˈmilfɒv]

    See also

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