The Slovak government has approved a proposal by the Ministry of Transport to cut the cost of second-class train tickets for one month, Pravda reports.
Discounted fares at 50% of the regular ticket price will come into effect on 1 October 2026 and remain in place for 30 days. The measure is intended to help people offset rising fuel costs while also encouraging a shift from cars to rail transport.
Which Tickets Will Be Cheaper
The discount will apply to single-journey tickets (jednorazové lístky) and route-based season tickets (traťové cestovné lístky) for second-class travel. After the reduction, fares will be rounded down to the nearest five cents. Discounted tickets will be available at ticket offices, through the ZSSK mobile app and on the company’s website.
The discount will not apply to a number of other services and ticket types. The exceptions will include:
- international tickets;
- reserved seats;
- annual season tickets;
- tickets within integrated public transport systems (IDS);
- transportation of luggage, bicycles and dogs;
- other additional services.
The existing system of free travel for passenger groups already entitled to it will remain unchanged.
How Much Will It Cost the State?
According to the ministry’s estimate, the temporary fare reduction will result in approximately €4.3 million in lost revenue for the railway operator over the 30-day period. Another roughly €1 million will be needed for technical and organisational costs associated with introducing the new fares.
The ministry expects cheaper tickets to increase passenger numbers, particularly on regional routes. Railway operators will have to monitor train occupancy and, if necessary, add capacity to selected regional and long-distance services.
The ministry says the initiative is a response to rising petrol and diesel prices. More expensive car travel increases household expenses, so the authorities want to make rail transport a more attractive alternative.
Other Measures
The temporary cut in train fares is just one of the measures being considered by the authorities in response to rising fuel prices. Other options under discussion include regulating the margins of oil refiners and supporting sectors with high diesel consumption, including agriculture and bus transport.
A reduction in fuel excise duty is not currently among the main options under consideration.
Other European countries have already announced their own measures to address the consequences of higher fuel prices. Germany will cut taxes on petrol and diesel from 1 October until the end of the year. Including value-added tax (VAT), this is expected to reduce prices by around 17 cents per litre. From the beginning of 2027, Germany also plans to introduce a price cap on fuel.
The Czech Republic will reduce the excise duty on diesel throughout October to the minimum level permitted under EU law. Poland has chosen a different approach: the government plans to impose an additional tax on excess profits earned by oil companies and use the proceeds to mitigate the impact of high fuel prices.
