Clash aboard a MÁV train
Anastasiia, a Ukrainian passenger, found herself in a heated argument with a conductor on a Hungarian MÁV train after he refused to accept a ticket purchased through the Ukrainian Railways website. The conductor insisted she pay again, claiming the document was merely a seat reservation, not a valid ticket. She refused to hand over money a second time.
The incident took place on the Budapest Nyugati–Mukachevo route. The conductor, who was checking tickets, rejected the document and explained that it was not a genuine ticket but only a confirmation of a reserved seat. Anastasiia stated:
“Be careful. Today, while traveling on the Budapest Nyugati–Mukachevo train, this MÁV conductor did not accept tickets from Ukrainian Railways and urged passengers to pay again for their seats, claiming it was not a ticket but a seat reservation.”
Other travelers share their experiences
Commenters on the post reported similar incidents and offered their own advice:
- One person noted that this practice by the Hungarians on this particular train has been going on for years and recommended: 'Print out your tickets.'
- Another comment stated: 'This is a train ticket. There’s no point arguing with the conductor—he’s trying to scam you.'
Several users suggested that for this train, passengers need two documents: a ticket and a seat reservation. One of them emphasized:
“I bought tickets through the MÁV app a month ago—the price was lower, there were no transfers, and I had no issues with children’s tickets either. Each person received two paper tickets: one for the train ride and two for seat reservations.”
Other users confirmed that the train from Budapest is likely the only one where printing tickets is truly necessary.
This incident sparked lively discussion among passengers, who tried to find ways to avoid similar problems in the future.
The conflict between the passenger and the conductor highlights how crucial it is to understand the rules and requirements for tickets on international routes. It also reveals the need for clearer communication between carriers and customers to prevent misunderstandings that can cause stress for travelers. The comments show that many passengers have faced similar issues, calling for attention from transport operators.