Hungarian railway company MÁV launches new 15% ‘smart discount’ – but scraps earlier, more generous fare cut

Hungary’s state rail and bus operator, MÁV–Volán, is introducing a new digital discount from Friday, offering 15% off all domestic intercity train and bus tickets purchased through the recently launched MÁVPlusz mobile app. The move, announced by MÁV CEO Zsolt Hegyi in a video message on Wednesday, aims to make travel more affordable during the busy Advent period – but it also replaces a previous discount scheme that allowed savings of up to 40%.

Universal 15% discount via the new MÁVPlusz app

According to Hegyi, the MÁVPlusz application is “the smartest route-planning tool” available in Hungary, capable of integrating every mode of public transport into a single journey plan. From 12 December, anyone who buys a domestic intercity train ticket, bus ticket or seat reservation through the app will automatically receive a 15% “smart discount”, regardless of when the purchase is made. This means tickets bought even moments before departure will still qualify.

The discount applies to both MÁV trains and Volánbusz services. MÁV stressed that the offer is exclusively available in the new app: users of older platforms will not receive the reduced fare.

The company said the initiative is designed to support those who do not travel regularly enough to justify purchasing monthly or regional passes, making occasional travel more affordable during the festive season.

Passes excluded: and a major discount quietly disappears

While the new discount is broadly available, it does not apply to county and national passes, nor to the Vármegye24 and Magyarország24 travel products, Telex reports. These will remain available at their current reduced prices, which also continue to include a 90% concession for students under the tariff reform.