The Slovak government has extended the 50% discounts on travel by train, regional bus and public transport in the country’s regional capitals.
The reduced fares will remain in effect until at least 30 November. The Ministry of Transport said the measure is intended to support passengers amid persistently high fuel prices. According to the ministry, the discounts introduced earlier have proved effective.
On ZSSK trains operating under public service contracts, second-class ticket prices were cut by 50% from 1 October. Discounts on regional buses and public transport in the regional capitals took effect on 12 October. Both measures were initially introduced for 30 days.
The discounts apply not only to single journeys but also to certain travel passes. On ZSSK trains, reduced fares are available for weekly and monthly tickets. On regional buses and urban public transport, the scheme covers tickets valid for up to one month.
The programme applies to regional bus services commissioned by self-governing regions, as well as public transport in all eight Slovak regional capitals: Bratislava, Trnava, Trenčín, Nitra, Žilina, Banská Bystrica, Prešov and Košice.
However, the exact terms depend on each operator’s fare system. For example, Bratislava’s public transport operator has included single tickets and seven-day and 30-day passes in the scheme. The discount does not apply to 90-day or annual passes.
The rules for SMS tickets also vary. In Bratislava, their prices have been reduced, while Košice announced when the programme was introduced that SMS ticket prices would remain unchanged. The extension of government support therefore does not mean that every type of ticket will cost half as much with every operator.
More than €13.8 million will be allocated to continue the programme. Of this amount, €5.3 million will compensate for lost revenue from railway ticket sales, while approximately €8.5 million will go to the regions and regional capitals to support regional bus services and urban public transport.
Demand for rail travel increased after the discounts were introduced, but capacity problems have also emerged. In early October, the government reported overcrowded trains. However, the cause was not simply higher passeng
