MÁV

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MÁV (Magyar Államvasutak, Hungarian State Railways) is the main railway company in Hungary and operates the majority of long-distance and regional traffic.

An overview of the offered traffic is provided by the route network map of Hungary as well as the line map of MÁV.

Summary

  • FIP Coupons and FIP 50 Tickets are accepted at MÁV.
  • FIP is not valid on MÁV buses, except in substitute rail service.
  • Booking of FIP 50 and reservations is possible online, at the ticket office and at the machine.

Validity of FIP Tickets

Validity FIP Coupon

First select the issuer of your FIP Card. If you are eligible, you can request the FIP Coupons through your employer. Please note that we are unable to assist with the issuance of FIP Coupons. You can find an overview of all FIP Coupons in the FIP Application.

Please select a FIP Card issuer first.

Validity FIP Reduced Ticket

Railway companies typically offer a discount with FIP, also known as FIP50 or FIP75. The discount is usually 50 %, sometimes 75 %. To find out what discount applies to you, first select the issuer of your FIP Card. You can find an overview of all discounts in the FIP Application.

Please select a FIP Card issuer first.

FIP Coupons and FIP 50 Tickets are valid on MÁV connections. For cross-border journeys, either a continuous FIP 50 ticket or FIP Coupons from both countries must be available.

Train Categories and Reservations

Long-Distance Traffic

Railjet (RJ) / Railjet Xpress (RJX)

FIP accepted Reservation partially required Risk of confusion
International long-distance trains in cooperation with ÖBB and other partner railways, for example on the Vienna – Budapest axis and Prague – Bratislava – Budapest. Economy Class (2nd class), First Class (1st class) and Business Class are available. A [dining car from ÖBB](https://www.oebb.at/de/reiseplanung-services/im-zug/bordservice) or [dining car from ČD](https://www.cd.cz/en/dalsi-sluzby/jidelni-vozy-a-obcerstveni-ve-vlaku/-27986/) is carried.

Business Class is not available for domestic journeys within Hungary. For international journeys, Business Class can be used with a 1st-class FIP Coupon pass or FIP 50 ticket; a supplement of € 22 applies.

Risk of Confusion

RJ can also stand for RegioJet. FIP tickets for MÁV are not valid on RegioJet trains.

Reservations

Seat reservations are mandatory for domestic traffic, optional for international traffic.

InterCity (IC)

FIP accepted Reservation required Risk of confusion
National express trains with 2nd class passenger cars, some also with 1st class and premium class 1+ cars. Occasionally [restaurant cars](https://www.mavcsoport.hu/en/mav-szemelyszallitas/domestic-travels/utasellato-dining-cars) and/or [bistro cars](https://www.mavcsoport.hu/en/mav-szemelyszallitas/domestic-travels/utasellato-bistro-cars) are carried.
Risk of Confusion

IC trains in Hungary are sometimes also operated by GySEV.

There are sometimes up to three car classes:

  • 2nd Class: Standard category on most national connections, usable with FIP authorization for 2nd class.
  • 1st Class: Premium category on some connections, usable with FIP authorization for 1st class.
  • Premium Class (1+): Premium category on the most important InterCity routes, offering a higher standard than 1st class. A surcharge applies for use.1 Further information about the premium class can be found on the MÁV website.
Reservations

A reservation is mandatory.

EuroCity (EC)

FIP accepted Reservation partially required
EuroCity trains are international express trains on routes between Budapest and Bratislava, Prague, Berlin or Warsaw. Most trains consist of Czech Railway cars, while the train to/from Berlin is formed from Hungarian cars and the train to/from Warsaw from Polish cars. Sometimes a [restaurant car](https://www.mavcsoport.hu/en/mav-szemelyszallitas/domestic-travels/utasellato-dining-cars) is carried.
Reservations

Seat reservations are mandatory for domestic traffic, optional for international traffic.

EuroNight (EN)

FIP accepted Reservation required
Night trains in cooperation with partner railways, which either start/end in Budapest or pass through the capital (e.g. the `EN` between Vienna and Bucharest). The trains usually consist of sleeping, couchette and seat cars. Occasionally restaurant/bistro cars are carried.
Reservations

Reservations are mandatory.

Additional information

InterRegio (IR)

FIP accepted No reservation possible
InterRegio connections are express trains in domestic traffic and form the basic schedule outside the international corridors. Usually only 2nd class is offered.

Expresszug (EX)

FIP accepted Reservation required
Express trains that usually only run on weekends and during holidays. Various car types are used and most trains have 2nd and 1st class.

In connection information systems outside of MÁV, the trains may be listed with a different train category.

Reservations

A reservation is mandatory.

Györsvonat (GY)

FIP accepted No reservation possible
Express trains used on many main routes – primarily where no InterCity trains operate. The trains stop in medium-sized and larger cities. Usually older, but modernized compartment cars are used.

In connection information systems outside of MÁV, the trains may be listed as IC.

Regional Traffic

Személyvonat (SZ)

FIP accepted No reservation possible Risk of confusion
Classic regional trains that stop at all intermediate stations.
Risk of Confusion

SZ trains in Hungary are sometimes also operated by GySEV.

Sebesvonat (S)

FIP accepted No reservation possible
Express trains that serve both regional and long-distance traffic. They therefore stop in some route sections almost everywhere, while for example near Budapest they only stop at the most important stations.

The S-Bahn trains in the Budapest region are also abbreviated as S, though these are always followed by a line number.

EuRegio (ER)

FIP accepted No reservation possible
Regional trains on the route Győr – Hegyeshalom – Bruck an der Leitha (– Vienna).

Budapesti Helyiérdekű Vasút (BHÉV)

FIP accepted No reservation possible
The BHÉV or short HÉV lines connect Budapest with the suburbs in the surrounding area. They are identified by the letter H followed by the line number (H5 – H9).

Budapest S-Bahn

Személyvonat (S)

FIP accepted No reservation possible
S-trains are part of the Budapest S-Bahn and are the slowest trains. They are identified by the letter S followed by the line number.

The express trains Sebesvonat of MÁV are also abbreviated with S, but these are not followed by a line number.

Gyorsított személy (G)

FIP accepted No reservation possible
G-trains are part of the Budapest S-Bahn and are accelerated trains, i.e. they do not stop at all stations. They are identified by the letter G followed by the line number.

Zónázó személy (Z)

FIP accepted No reservation possible
Z-trains are part of the Budapest S-Bahn and are zone trains, i.e. they only stop at the most important stations in Budapest's city area and then at selected major suburban stations. They are identified by the letter Z followed by the line number.

Other

TramTrain Szeged – Hódmezővásárhely

FIP accepted No reservation possible

The TramTrain between Szeged and Hódmezővásárhely can be used with FIP.1 Modern Stadler Citylink vehicles are used.

Additional information

Balatonfenyves Narrow Gauge Railway

FIP accepted No reservation possible

The narrow-gauge railway from Balatonfenyves to Somogyszentpál and Csisztafürdő on the south shore of Lake Balaton is the last narrow-gauge railway operated by MÁV. It can be used with FIP.1

Additional information

Bus

FIP not accepted No reservation possible

FIP tickets are not valid on MÁV buses. On buses in substitute rail service, FIP benefits apply if they replace a train in which FIP would have been valid.1

Ticket and Reservation Purchase

Online

MÁV Website

Reservation FIP 50 Tickets
Reservation Costs:
1st Class: HUF 990 2nd Class: HUF 990

FIP 50 Tickets and reservations for MÁV and GySEV connections are sold on the MÁV booking website.

MÁV also offers an app through which FIP 50 tickets and reservations can be purchased.

MÁV Website Overview
FIP 50 Tickets

FIP 50 Tickets for MÁV and GySEV connections are sold on the MÁV booking website. To add the FIP 50 discount, on the connection search page under Passengers and Discounts, the passenger overview must be opened. Only after entering the date of birth can the FIP 50 discount be added with Add Discounts. A distinction is made between FIP 50 1st class and 2nd class. The class refers to the eligibility, not the desired class of the ticket.

MÁV Date of Birth
MÁV Discounts
Reservations

Reservations for MÁV and GySEV trains can be purchased online for 990 HUF. To do this, the option I only need seat reservation must be selected in the connection search.

To Booking Website

On-Site

MÁV Ticket Office

Reservation FIP 50 Tickets
Reservation Costs:
1st Class: HUF 990 2nd Class: HUF 990

At MÁV ticket offices, a distinction is made between national and international ticket offices. As a rule, staff at international ticket offices speak foreign languages such as English or German.

Cash payments are rounded to the nearest 5 forints (HUF).2

Changes (refund and new ticket sale) to international tickets purchased at ticket offices in Hungary can only be made on the same day as purchase and at the same station.2

FIP 50 Tickets

FIP 50 tickets can be purchased at MÁV ticket offices for travel within Hungary for MÁV and GySEV as well as for cross-border connections.

Reservations

Reservations for MÁV and GySEV trains can be purchased on-site for HUF 990.

MÁV Ticket Machine

Reservation FIP 50 Tickets
Reservation Costs:
1st Class: HUF 990 2nd Class: HUF 990

Ticket machines from MÁV are available at many major train stations. FIP 50 Tickets and reservations for MÁV and GySEV are sold here.

FIP 50 Tickets

FIP 50 Tickets can be purchased at MÁV ticket machines for travel within Hungary for MÁV and GySEV as well as for cross-border connections.

To book FIP 50 Tickets, select the option Further Discounts in the passenger discounts section. You can then choose FIP 50% domestic discount 1st class (50%) or FIP 50% domestic discount 2nd class (50%). The class refers to eligibility, not the desired class of the ticket.

Discount Overview
Further Discounts
Reservations

Reservations for MÁV and GySEV trains can be purchased on-site for 990 HUF.

To book reservations without a ticket, select Further settings in the passenger overview. You can then select the option I only need a seat reservation.

Passenger Overview
Further Settings

On the Train

When purchasing FIP-discounted tickets or when changing class from 2nd to 1st class on the train, a surcharge applies.1

Discounts

Children up to and including 13 years travel free. From 14 years onwards, the regular FIP adult rate applies.3

On international journeys, children under 10 years of age may not travel unaccompanied by an adult. Children from 10 years of age must carry a signed parental consent form. MÁV does not assume responsibility for unaccompanied children. Parents are liable for all damages caused by the child. If a child is found traveling unaccompanied and without a parental consent form, the authorities will be notified.1

Special Tariff Conditions

1st Class and 1+ Class

Since the 2024 fare reform, 1st Class travel in Hungary is available only on trains requiring a seat reservation. The surcharge for upgrading from 2nd to 1st Class is a flat rate of 1,000 HUF. A seat reservation costs HUF 990 in 2nd Class and HUF 1,990 in 1st Class, unless the passenger holds a 1st Class FIP card; in that case, the 1st Class reservation costs HUF 990.

Reservations for 1+ Class cost HUF 3,990 and can be booked regardless of whether the passenger holds a 2nd Class or 1st Class FIP card. The reservation fee already includes the class upgrade surcharge, meaning it can also be purchased in conjunction with a 2nd Class FIP Coupon or FIP 50 ticket.

No Reservation Requirement between Budapest-Keleti and Budapest-Kelenföld

On RJ, RJX, IC, EC and EX trains, a reservation is generally mandatory for domestic traffic. The Budapest-Keleti – Budapest-Kelenföld relation is exempted from this rule. The regulations for the respective train should be checked in MÁV’s connection information before traveling.

Premium Lounge in Budapest-Keleti

At Budapest-Keleti, the lounge is accessible to passengers holding sleeper reservations (Single, Double, Triple), including those traveling with FIP. Access is available for a duration of two hours, both prior to departure and upon arrival.

Full details and further information can be found on the lounge information page.

Break of Journey

A break of journey is possible at MÁV without additional formalities.1

Substitute Rail Service

On buses in substitute rail service, FIP benefits apply if they replace a train in which FIP would have been valid.1

Recommendations

Personal Tip

For long-distance journeys, early booking of reservations is worthwhile, especially on the international axes to Vienna, Bratislava (and further to Prague) and Romania. For regional excursions in western Hungary, a combination of MÁV and GySEV connections is the most flexible solution. The rolling stock of MÁV is very different. Both modern passenger cars are used in long-distance traffic and Stadler trains on regional connections, as well as quite aged rolling stock without air conditioning, but with opening windows. Long-distance trains with dining cars are particularly recommended, as fresh cooking is sometimes done here and the menu offers a large selection.

Sources

  1. Rail Delivery Group – Hungary ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  2. Rail Delivery Group - Hungary ↩︎ ↩︎

  3. MÁV Domestic Travel - Prices and discounts ↩︎