Electronic ticketing system being tested – Budapester Zeitung

2024-07-09 10:33:15

public transport in Budapest

Written by Christina Vontin

The Budapest Transport Center (BKK) is starting consultations regarding the introduction of an electronic ticketing system in the capital across the country.

According to a press release, this move is the start of a public procurement process and is intended to further develop the successful Budapest Pay&Go pilot project. The service, which has been trialled in Budapest since last year, is considered the fastest and easiest way to buy tickets in the city. The basic principle is that the validation happens simultaneously with the payment process. This internationally proven procedure does not involve the issuing of paper tickets or certificates. Instead, the passenger’s bank card serves as proof of travel authorization during checks.

Customer expectations in the foreground

The aim of the consultation is to have a professional dialogue with potential suppliers. The aim is to communicate BKK’s expectations from the service and discuss questions about system development and operation. The company plans to design the Pay&Go system in the future to meet as many customer needs as possible. Both regular travelers and occasional users of public transport should be able to buy the type of ticket that suits them best.

Step by step implementation

Introducing such a complex electronic system is a long-term project. According to BKK’s calculations, the Pay&GO payment solution could not be available on additional lines until the second half of 2026 at the earliest. Since its launch, over a million tickets have been sold through Pay&GO. The solution is very popular on express airport buses, where almost 35% of tickets are bought this way. On subway line 1, 25-30% of passengers also use Pay&NÉ. 45% of users use a smart device to make purchases, and 55% prefer a credit card. The majority of customers (93%) usually buy up to two tickets per transaction.