Hungarian State Railways ended their most used discount without saying a word
Hungarian State Railways have quietly withdrawn one of its most widely used ticket discounts, effectively increasing prices for passengers who typically book their journeys in advance.
Not a word was said about the decision
The move, which affects so-called “smart tickets”, was introduced without public announcement and has already resulted in noticeably higher fares on key routes.
Until mid-December, travellers buying tickets ahead of time could save up to 40 percent compared to the standard fare. For example, an early-bird ticket for the Budapest–Miskolc line previously cost around HUF 2,600 (EUR 6.87).
Today, however, the same journey for the Christmas period is priced at HUF 4,042 (EUR 10.68) – the full, undiscounted tariff – whether purchased on the Hungarian State Railways’ website or through either of its mobile apps.
What appears to be a steep price hike is, in reality, the disappearance of the discount itself. Smart tickets had long provided an incentive for passengers with predictable travel schedules to choose rail over other modes of transport.
These fares were straightforward and already included reservation fees, offering a sense of value even during MÁV’s notoriously challenging summer periods.
Yet MÁV has removed the option without any visible communication. No press release was issued, no explanation published on its platforms, and the discounted fares have simply vanished from the booking system.
Hungarian State Railways did not deny, though
In a written response to Magyar Narancs, the company did not deny the change. Instead, it stated that “the smart ticket system will be renewed and transformed from the start of the new timetable period.
We will shortly inform our valued passengers and the public of the details.” Currently, smart tickets remain available only for travel dates up to 14 December. For later dates, they no longer appear.
This lack of clarity contrasts with Hungarian State Railways’ earlier communications. In a 15 November press release about the upcoming timetable change, the company made no mention of discontinuing smart tickets. Despite this, tickets for the new timetable period have already gone on sale—minus the popular discount.
The removal itself is not entirely surprising. MÁV, which has long struggled with financial constraints, has shown little interest in promoting discounted fares.
When the highly publicised MÁV+ app launched in the summer—championed by Transport Minister János Lázár—it did not offer smart tickets at all, unlike the older MÁV app and the online booking platform. Their recent alignment with the new system seems to have simply completed the phase-out.
We can be entitled to compensation elsewhere
However, passengers may still find some relief elsewhere. Earlier this year, amid widespread delays, Minister Lázár introduced automatic compensation: if a train is more than 20 minutes late, passengers are entitled to a 50 percent refund of their ticket price.
In June alone, Hungarian State Railways reportedly paid out HUF 18 million (EUR 47,564) under this scheme—before the peak summer season even began.
With punctuality issues persisting and advance-purchase discounts gone, many passengers may now be weighing whether rail travel in Hungary still offers value for money. Whether Hungarian State Railways’ promised “renewed” system will include any meaningful replacement for the smart ticket remains to be seen.