Hungary’s public transport changes from 1 July: this concerns everybody

No, the trains in Hungary will probably not stick to the timetable better than before. However, there are fundamental changes in how to use Intercity trains, public transport prices and price reductions provided you buy your ticket online or in the vending machines.

According to index.hu, MÁV, the Hungarian state railways, will no longer sell IC supplementary tickets from 1 July. Instead, you will be able to buy universally-priced seat reservation tickets. Furthermore, you will be able to use the newly-introduced country passes with reservation tickets on the 2nd class, making life easier for each passenger.

The new pricing system will be in effect from 1 July. It will make it possible for everybody to use IC trains with Minister János Lázár’s brand-new country passes. In advance, such IC seat reservation tickets will cost HUF 650 (EUR 1.77). Meanwhile, on the day of the trip, it will be HUF 990 (EUR 2.7), regardless of the direction.

Bus, train ticket prices increase

In carriages which do not reach IC quality, you will have to buy a HUF 300 (EUR 0.82) supplementary ticket. That will also be a universal price everywhere in the country. Meanwhile, MÁV’s Friday announcement highlighted that the new county passes would not be valid on trains and railway segments that require a seat reservation. To make matters worse, the new county and country passes will not be valid on IC+ trains either. Tickets for IC+ trains will increase to HUF 1,990 (EUR 5.41) universally.