Hungary passes vs Interrail

[KnobbyGB]

I'm posting because a thread from a couple of years ago is locked.

I was looking at Interrailing in Hungary in October and I usually don't look at 'local options' as Interrail are usually good value. A 4-day (adult) Interrail pass for Hungary is 129 Euro but then I found I can get a daily pass covering the whole country for around 14 Euro, so less than half the price, or a 30 day pass for 52 Euro!

Despite the replies in previous thread - is this still a thing? It just seems too good to be true and I'm a firm believer that when that happens, it probably ISN'T true!

Am I missing something? What about peak time restrictions? Has anybody here actually done this? Do you just show the pass on your phone or do you have to enter train details like on Interrail? I'm aware of the added need for seat reservations on some trains, by the way, and of internation-train restrictions.

How do Interrail ever sell ANY tickets for Hungary when ANYBODY can buy a monthly pass for under 2 Euro per day?

 

[43096]

I'm posting because a thread from a couple of years ago is locked.

I was looking at Interrailing in Hungary in October and I usually don't look at 'local options' as Interrail are usually good value. A 4-day (adult) Interrail pass for Hungary is 129 Euro but then I found I can get a daily pass covering the whole country for around 14 Euro, so less than half the price, or a 30 day pass for 52 Euro!

Despite the replies in previous thread - is this still a thing? It just seems too good to be true and I'm a firm believer that when that happens, it probably ISN'T true!

Am I missing something? What about peak time restrictions? Has anybody here actually done this? Do you just show the pass on your phone or do you have to enter train details like on Interrail? I'm aware of the added need for seat reservations on some trains, by the way, and of internation-train restrictions.

You aren’t missing anything. I have used the Hungary day pass several times and had no issues with it. Worth noting it is also valid on busses and the Budapest Metro, too.

 

[Farigiraf]

Despite the replies in previous thread - is this still a thing? It just seems too good to be true and I'm a firm believer that when that happens, it probably ISN'T true!

Still exists. May increase in price soon as it was a political move to win a few votes by the previous government, but I don't see it being removed anytime soon. The catch essentially is that it's a taxpayer black hole while the actual rail infrastructure is falling apart.

What about peak time restrictions

None.

Has anybody here actually done this?

I've used the equivalent 1-county passes before and it was very straightforward - these passes seem to be used a lot by regular long-distance travellers and commuters.

Do you just show the pass on your phone or do you have to enter train details like on Interrail?

For all non-IC trains, you do just turn up and go. You do need to provide some form of identification (passport/driving license) when buying though, which conductors may check.

I'm aware of the added need for seat reservations on some trains, by the way, and of internation-train restrictions.

Some extra info in case you don't know:
- Some intercity trains run with an unreserved portion of the train, as this section of the train uses worse quality carriages without air con, due to a rolling stock shortage. These are identified by the 'Expresszvonat', 'Sebesvonat' and 'Gyorsvonat' categories, all of which are more or less a translation of 'fast train'.

- You can use the pass on international services provided that you don't cross the border and that the train is run by MAV or GYSEV. This shouldn't be a problem though for most routes.

- It's also valid on metro, tram and bus services in most larger cities (except for Szeged trams, for which there's a separate supplement). Exact details on the MAV and BKK websites.

- You can buy the ticket on the Budapest GO app which is probably the easiest and most reliable place to get it, as the app has an English language version.

- There is a delay repay scheme for the pass but it's very fiddly and complicated so it's unlikely to be worth the effort for the small amount of compensation you get.

How do Interrail ever sell ANY tickets for Hungary when ANYBODY can buy a monthly pass for under 2 Euro per day?

There's no 1st class equivalent so I suppose that's what interrail is good for, and if you offer a 1st class option then you may as well have a 2nd class offer as well. Plus it's valid on trains run by other countries' operators, plus Regiojet. You'd still be paying much more than you'd pay for 1st class walk-up tickets, but it's a bit more straightforward so you'd probably pick it if you have lots of money to throw around.

 

[rvdborgt]

There's no 1st class equivalent so I suppose that's what interrail is good for, and if you offer a 1st class option then you may as well have a 2nd class offer as well.

1st class upgrades for the national pass are fairly cheap though, so an Interrail one country pass still doesn't make much economic sense.

 

[tram21]

How do Interrail ever sell ANY tickets for Hungary when ANYBODY can buy a monthly pass for under 2 Euro per day?

There's quite a few examples of this, for example the Balkans, whilst There's no country-wide pass such as this, you are HIGHLY unlikely to make use of the pass vs buying single tickets directly!

 

[mad_rich]

They also sell a Benelux pass, where the -lux part is worthless, due to all domestic travel being free (in second class)!

 

[Segedunum]

You aren’t missing anything. I have used the Hungary day pass several times and had no issues with it. Worth noting it is also valid on busses and the Budapest Metro, too.

The Hungary day pass is very much not valid on the Budapest Metro - though it is valid on HÉV trains. The monthly pass however is.

 

[43096]

The Hungary day pass is very much not valid on the Budapest Metro - though it is valid on HÉV trains. The monthly pass however is.

It very much is. I have used it and gone through an RPI grip and it scanned fine.

 

[Segedunum]

It very much is. I have used it and gone through an RPI grip and it scanned fine.

Hmm see attached graphic on the Új Tarifa website which states otherwise. Naturally a positive scan suggests either the website is wrong or the scanners are being generous!

 

[ricohallo]

Hmm see attached graphic on the Új Tarifa website which states otherwise. Naturally a positive scan suggests either the website is wrong or the scanners are being generous!

The FAQ on the same website also states the following:

Daily tickets do not allow you to use local transport except Érd and Csongrád from 1st May, 2024 (although you can use interurban services between stations within any city).

Found by selecting Usage, validity and then Where is my Hungary pass valid?

 

[ABB125]

You aren’t missing anything. I have used the Hungary day pass several times and had no issues with it. Worth noting it is also valid on busses and the Budapest Metro, too.

It very much is. I have used it and gone through an RPI grip and it scanned fine.

By contrast, I was fined (about £26) for using a day pass on the Budapest Metro. I was originally planning to buy a month pass, but then decided to buy a couple of days passes instead because it would save me about £5 or so and didn't properly read the details... That went well!

 

[43096]

By contrast, I was fined (about £26) for using a day pass on the Budapest Metro. I was originally planning to buy a month pass, but then decided to buy a couple of days passes instead because it would save me about £5 or so and didn't properly read the details... That went well!

So absolutely no consistency then! Very odd that my pass scanned fine with RPIs on the Budapest Metro and the Airport 200E bus service to Kobanya-Kispest.