Centre for Budapest Transport (BKK) may launch the procurement procedure needed to introduce an electronic ticketing system across the entire public transport network in Budapest and its metropolitan area, after the concept received support from the city assembly on Wednesday.
In recent years BKK has significantly developed its digital channels, including the launch of the BudapestGO application, which is regularly expanded with new features. As a step toward the introduction of a full electronic ticketing system, the company also made ticket purchase and validation available in a single step through the Budapest Pay and Go payment service on the 100E Airport Express and the M1 metro line.
The essence of the Budapest Pay and Go service is that ticket purchase and validation take place in one step by tapping a bank card or another smart device on a validator. No prior registration or app download is required, and paper tickets are not needed, allowing passengers to begin their journey immediately. The bank card based solution is now considered an international standard and is used in hundreds of major cities worldwide. According to the plans, the pilot will be extended to all metro lines in mid-April.
At the same time, the transport organizer said it had developed the concept for Budapest’s electronic ticketing system by using the experience gained from the pilot project, analyzing international best practices and taking into account the specific features of transport in the capital.
The city assembly supported the concept for the BKK Pay and Go electronic ticket service and the launch of the procurement procedure required for the system’s operation at its Wednesday meeting.
According to BKK’s plans, the Pay and Go system in Budapest will offer solutions for as many passenger needs as possible, allowing both regular public transport users and occasional travellers to find the most suitable product type. The service will also enable spending limits, such as daily or weekly caps, for occasional travel, ensuring that passengers always receive the most favourable fare.
Based on BKK’s calculations, Pay and Go type bank card payments could appear gradually across the entire public transport network of Budapest and its metropolitan area from the first half of 2028.
The statement quoted Ágnes Diószegi, Deputy Chief Executive for customer relations and sales at BKK, as saying that the goal is not only to introduce a new technology but to create a system that is easy to understand and convenient for everyone, making the use of public transport in Budapest even simpler.
She added that the success of the Pay and Go pilot shows that customers are open to simple and fast solutions, and BKK intends to build on this by introducing a full citywide electronic ticketing system.
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