BREAKING: Budapest public transport monthly pass price falls from 1 March!

Yesterday, the mayor of Budapest, Gergely Karácsony, and Hungary’s transport and construction minister, János Lázár, signed an agreement to maintain the validity of the Budapest pass even on the public transport vehicles of state-owned companies. This morning, Mr Karácsony announced that the Budapest monthly pass’s price will fall considerably from 1 March.

As we wrote yesterday, Karácsony and Lázár agreed that the Budapest monthly pass will remain valid on MÁV, Volán, and HÉV trains. Furthermore, from 1 March, the monthly season ticket for Pest County and the national season ticket will be applicable on BKK lines.

As a result, people living in the suburbs around Budapest but working in the capital will have to buy only one monthly pass, meaning they will save half the money they used to spend on travelling. On average, that means HUF 9,450 (EUR 24) more will remain in their purse each month. But for example, students will pay 72% less because their monthly season ticket costs only HUF 945, and they will not have to buy a Budapest season ticket from March. That is good news for the passengers. However, everything comes with a price: the new system will generate incredible losses for public transport companies.

Passenger will pay much less for Budapest transport

After the new system’s implementation, fewer people will buy Budapest monthly passes, probably only those who live and work inside the boundaries of the capital. Therefore, BKK, Budapest Public Transport Centre, will lose a lot of money.