An overview of the passenger transport sector in Hungary is presented. While the use of cars in Hungary is low compared with most other European countries, this is expected to rise substantially by 2015 with a consequent decrease in the use of public transport, predicted as a decrease from 50% to 30% of modal split. However there was a marked lack of motorways but good rail infrastructure. The economic recession has reduced the financing available for public transport by 10-15% over a three-year period and bus operators were invited to scrap 3500 services in 2008 and 2009. Previously bus operators planned to gain passengers from the railways by providing a better service structure whereas now the bus operators compete with each other or give up territory, thereby incurring losses. The provision of efficient services is dependent on the social welfare of the community, the transport operator's need for profit and the individual interests of passengers. Balancing these requirements and the best choice of public transport mode are discussed. The Institute for Transport Sciences has found different ways of choosing the optimal way of changing a mode of transportation,including an integrated periodic timetable. While real market competition needs to be created, optimal market control is also required in order to create common interests shared by all actors. The aim is to bring transport operators' interests towards maintainability rather than profit maximisation. While the state contribution to railways remains considerably higher than that to bus services, no real competition is expected. For the covering abstract see ITRD E146823
Abstract