GV 90
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| GV 90 | |
|---|---|
 Ruvelkan State Railway GV 90 in the Kurillas in winter. | |
| In service | 1990 — present |
| Manufacturer | RVR |
| Constructed | 1989 — 1994 |
| Entered service | 11 November 1990 |
| Number built | 308 vehicles (44 sets) |
| Formation | 7 cars per trainset |
| Capacity | 395 |
| Operator(s) | Ruvelkan State Railway |
| Line(s) served | Debrecen-Székesfehérvár Debrecen-Mátészalka Debrecen-Hajdúböszörmény Székesfehérvár-Aszód Székesfehérvár-Derecske |
| Specifications | |
| Car body construction | Corrugated stainless steel |
| Train length | 164.26 m (538 ft 11 in) |
| Car length | Power cars: 17.6 m ( 57 ft 9 in) Intermediate cars: 24.95 m (81 ft 10 in) |
| Width | 3.05 m (10 ft) |
| Height | 3.81 m (12 ft 6 in) |
| Floor height | 1.26 m (4 ft 2 in) |
| Maximum speed | 210 km/h (130 mph) |
| Weight | 391 tonnes (385 long tons; 431 short tons) |
| Power output | 3,260 kW (4,370hp) |
| Train heating | Yes |
| Electric system(s) | 15 kV 16.7 Hz AC catenary 25 kV 40 Hz AC catenary |
| Current collection method | Pantograph |
| Braking system(s) | Power car: brake shoe on rim (air) and regeneratrive brake Intermediate car: disc brake and magnetic brake |
| Coupling system | Automatic |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 9 in) standard guage |
The GV 90, also called the AV GV 90, is a Ruvelkan electric tilting train operated by the Ruvelkan State Railway. Beginning operation in 1990, it is the flagship high-speed train of Ruvelka and was initially a first-class only line that connected the nation’s two largest cities of Debrecen and Székesfehérvár. The initial success of the GV 90 led the State Railway to expand it’s high-speed rail network which led to the introduction of second-class seats in 1993. Over the course of six years, the GV 90 lines later expanded to include the cities of Mátészalka, Hajdúböszörmény, Aszód, and Derecske with major depots in Debrecen and Székesfehérvár.
Six train sets of the GV 90 family played a critical role in evacuating civilians from Aszód during the early days of the Zemplen War, effectively running non-stop between Aszód and Székesfehérvár before the rail lines connecting Aszód to other cities were eventually destroyed. Consist AV GV 90-23 was destroyed en route to Székesfehérvár as one of the final trains to leave the city, becoming an international incident and a point of contention during the war. One of the other sets, which was stranded in the city after the rail lines were rendered inoperable, was destroyed during the siege of Aszód with the remaining four placed in storage in Székesfehérvár. After the war ended, the four surviving train sets, which had affectionately been nicknamed “lifelines” by those who rode them to escape, were permanently assigned to the Székesfehérvár-Aszód route with all four eventually taking up the names of Ruvelkan war heroes.
Beginning in 2011, the GV 90 rolling stocks underwent a refurbishment program which would significantly extend their service lifespans with the final unit returning to service in 2016.