New tariff system in Hungarian public transport from today
The most significant tariff reform of the last decades is being carried out in public transport by the Ministry of Construction and Transport (ÉKM) and the MÁV-VOLÁN group. From March 1, a completely new system will replace the outdated discount system, which is perhaps difficult to understand these days — reads the announcement of Hungarian Railways, MÁV.
The new tariff system provides more for less and more simply than the previous one. Thanks to the complete transformation, the range of ticket and pass products, as well as the discount system, will be much easier to understand for the approximately 3.5-4 million passengers who choose public transport; and in addition, the discounts can now be used by those entitled without complicated certificates.
From March 1, we will start selling tickets and passes available with the new discounts and conditions at our ticket offices, online in the MÁV app and ELVIRA, and at the vending machines, on board trains and buses. We have launched our information campaign regarding the new tariffs, with the help of which users of public transport can find out all the important details about the changes and new possibilities. On our website ujtarifa.hu you can find everything essential in one place — continues the announcement.
Discounts based on age
All our passengers under the age of 14 and over 65 can travel free of charge, and all our passengers between the ages of 14 and 25 can travel with a half-price ticket. This affects seven hundred thousand young people between the ages of 6 and 14, and another one million between the ages of 14 and 25.
Those under the age of 25 without a student ID are entitled to travel with a 50% discount, or free of charge, based on their age. However, only those with a Hungarian full-time student card — including evening training — are entitled to use the discounted passes. Correspondence (part-time) students cannot obtain a discounted pass, however, they can still use the discount based on age.
For trains requiring a seat reservation (e.g. InterCity, railjets, international trains with a seat reservation required in domestic traffic), the purchase of a seat ticket is still required.
New day tickets: Hungary24 and County24
The Hungary24 and County24 day tickets, released on March 1, condense most of the advantages of the county and country passes into 24 hours. The day tickets will only be available in full-price versions: HUF 999 and HUF 4,999 respectively.
The new Hungary24 day tickets are valid on HÉV trains, on the "blue" and "yellow" Volán buses, as well as on trains (even on those requiring a seat reservation, which has to be purchased separately) in and outside of Budapest.
County24 day tickets are not valid on trains with a seat reservation, but can be used on the "blue" and "yellow" Volán buses and most trains outside and inside Budapest. Within Budapest (within the city limits) it can even be used on trains that require a seat reservation.
An important difference is that, unlike the Hungary Pass and the Pest County Pass, day tickets are not accepted on BKK routes.
A County Pass or a County24 day ticket cannot be used for trains that require seat reservation on sections outside Budapest. If the InterCity train operates with both types of carriages — those that require seat reservation and those that don't — the county pass can also be used in the carriages and sections that can be used without a seat reservation.
Travel with public transport in Budapest and Pest county
From March 1, both the Pest County Pass and the Hungary Pass will be accepted on BKK routes, meaning that they are now valid on trains, HÉV trains, trams, subways, intercity and local buses and trolleybuses in Budapest.
For those regularly commuting in and out of Budapest, it is better to choose the Pest County or the Hungary Pass, because they offer more services for almost the same amount of money. The 2nd class parts of the premium trains can be used with a Hungary Pass, Pest County Pass, Hungary24 and County24 (PEST) day tickets for travel within Budapest.
The MÁV mobile application needs to be updated in order to purchase the new tickets and passes.
More details about day tickets, passes, and discounts can be found on the new website ujtarifa.hu, where all necessary information is available in English too.
Source: MÁV-START Zrt.
Featured image via MÁV-START Zrt. on Facebook
