Budapest transport tickets to increase drastically from September!
Budapest’s transport company, BKK, said the primary reasons behind their decision was the economic circumstances and the soaring energy prices. To maintain the quality passengers got used to in the previous years, they need to increase their prices.
According to a statement published on the official website of the BKK, the price increase is necessary due to the economic crisis and the needed developments in Budapest’s public transport system. They added that they continue to respect the regulars, so the pass cost will not change.
Based on BKK, their passengers did not notice the continuous crisis hitting the industry. The company maintained quality service in the last few years despite COVID and the economic crisis. Furthermore, they even managed to increase it with multiple developments. But all that come with a price.
In the last year, 285 new buses and 48 trolley buses joined the fleet in Budapest. Moreover, they finished the renovation of metro line M3. Later, the BudapestGo app kicked off with a continuously expanding service inventory.
Budapest public transport tickets will be more expensive
Even though many returned to use the services of the BKK after the pandemic, the overall ticket and pass income significantly decreased in the last four years. Compared to 2019, the sum was 16 percent lower in end-2022. Meanwhile, expenditures grew because of general inflation and soaring energy prices. Public transport costs HUF 60 billion (EUR 157.7 million) more than seven years ago for the taxpayers of the capital.
Therefore, following the footsteps of MÁV-HÉV, MÁV-Start and Volánbusz, BKK is going to increase ticket prices significantly. A single ticket will cost HUF 450 (EUR 1.18) instead of HUF 350 from 1 September. A single ticket bought on the spot will cost HUF 600 (EUR 1.58) instead of HUF 450. The block of 10 tickets will be HUF 4,000 (EUR 10.5) instead of HUF 3,000.
Meanwhile, pass prices will not change. The monthly Budapest pass will be HUF 9,500 (EUR 25), and the monthly Budapest pass for students will remain HUF 3,450 (EUR 9). The decision means most tourists will pay much more. The increase is between 28-33 percent in the case of the previously mentioned single tickets.
If we are lucky … Our EU beating inflation rate will come down to under 10 percent in November of this year.
https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/eus-highest-inflation-slow-7-8-by-dec-hungary-finance-minister-2023-07-20/
Still means prices are rising. And no, if inflation comes down, prices do not decrease. They just rise less quickly.
The BKK formerly BKV is a joy to use in Budapest. Fantastic system. I wouldn’t use a car to go anywhere unless I needed to transport something. It’s great that the price of passes is not going up because it is an absolutely essential service for all residents and a lot of people don’t have much disposable income as it is.
As the bulk of the ridership buy monthly passes, how is the BKK able to cover their increased costs without tapping their main customer? And if the government is the one covering the shortfall, what have they decided NOT to fund in order to have the money to do this? [I suppose it’s education as that only pays dividends in the future.]