📋 Tender Overview
MÁV-START's domestic and international trains were used for a record number of journeys of around 181 million last year. However, in 2023, MÁV-START has not only reached a peak in passenger traffic, but also in sales: more than 700,000 smart tickets have been sold; 130,000 passengers have already had the opportunity to try out the premium quality (1+ class) services of IC+ coaches during their trips between Budapest and Debrecen, Nyíregyháza, Miskolc, Szeged, Pécs, and in summer to Lake Balaton. Last year also brought a turnaround in ticket buying habits, as online ticket purchase was worth the ticket office sales, 38 percent of ticket and season ticket products were already purchased with ELVIRA or with the help of the MÁV app.
Smart ticket – discounted and can be purchased with just a few clicks
Smart Tickets, which can be purchased at an extremely affordable price for those purchasing tickets on time, were sold in 2022, compared to 727,000 last year. This is also due to the fact that from March of the previous year this type of discounted ticket can be purchased for all InterCity routes to more than 80 cities. The most popular type was the Szeged Smart Ticket, of which 137,000 units were purchased in 2023, Nyíregyháza came in second place with 131,000, while Pécs reached the third step of the podium, just short of the 100,000 Smart tickets sold.
Smart tickets have a fixed price, they can only be purchased in advance, no later than the day before the train departure. It is only available in the MÁV app and the new Elvira, where the system automatically shows the best available offers. The price already includes seat reservation, no other supplementary ticket has to be bought with the Smart Ticket. With this solution, railways offer a real alternative to cars, even carpooling, thus supporting the use of more environmentally friendly long-distance public transport.
The premium service was also used by more people
Among MÁV-START's own IC+ cars, the 35th first-class bistro and premium section train was also put into service last year. The development and popularity of the premium service is shown by the fact that nearly 55,000 seat reservations were purchased for them in 2022, compared to 76,000 more last year, at 131,000.
Premium Class is the highest service category available on board IC trains, even higher than Class 1. Passengers prefer these compartments for longer journeys. From the capital to Pécs by Mecsek, to Szeged by Napfény, to Miskolc by Tokaj InterCity, while to Debrecen and Nyíregyháza by Nyírság and Tokaj InterCity, in the summer pre- and post-season via Siófok and Fonyód to Keszthely, and during the high season via Balatonfüred to Tapolca as well.
The premium section can be used with a 1st class ticket and a seat reservation for HUF 1990. The premium service is thus only slightly more expensive compared to standard 1st class, but it also includes an even more comfortable ride and additional extra services. Passengers switching to premium class (1+) can travel in an exclusive environment, comfortably in a spacious seat and space, which is a good choice if you want to relax or work on the go, as the seats have fold-out tables suitable for work or eating. Passengers can choose a complimentary hot drink (coffee or tea) by presenting their seat reservation in the Passenger Catering Bistro section of the car.
Why stand in line if you have the MÁV app at hand?
It was a watershed in the MÁV-START ticketing area of 2023, as the proportion of online ticket purchases caught up with box office sales. 38% of season tickets and passes have already been purchased on our online interfaces with more than 2 million registered users, i.e. ELVIRA (jegy.mav.hu) or the MÁV app. Within this, more than a quarter (27%) of sales were made by our passengers in the MÁV mobile application and 11% in ELVIRA. In parallel with the increase in the proportion of self-service channels (online MÁV app, ELVIRA and vending machine shopping), the proportion of cash register and on-board sales decreased. This is especially evident at the box office: in 5 years, the rate of ticket purchase decreased from 65 to 39 percent.
The role of the MÁV app gained importance at the end of 2020, as season tickets became available on this channel as well, so more and more people buy their season tickets using our mobile application, they can present tickets on their smartphones that are always at hand, on trains, or if they have purchased county or country passes, on buses or even on suburban railway stations.
The share of vending machine sales has also increased significantly; While 12% in 2019, every fifth (23%) ticket buyers purchased their tickets and passes at vending machines in 2023. Last year, almost 15.6 million tickets were purchased from vending machines. Until 2022, we have installed more than half a thousand vending machines to reach as widely as possible, mainly on Budapest's suburban network and at stations and stops in the countryside and Lake Balaton with significant traffic.
