Buses in eastern Slovakia transported more than 35 million passengers

Regional bus service in eastern Slovakia carried more than 35 million passengers in 2025. More than half of them took advantage of discounted fares, which are intended primarily for schoolchildren, students, and seniors aged 63 and older. Interest in prepaid tickets also grew.

Exactly 35,382,639 passengers were transported on regional buses in eastern Slovakia in 2025. More than 18 million passengers (51%) took advantage of discounted fares, nearly 14.5 million passengers (41%) paid full fare, and nearly 3 million passengers (8%) paid special fares. The busiest months of the year were September and October, reflecting the traditionally high volume of travel associated with the start of the school year.

“Even in 2025, bus transportation continued to enjoy steady passenger demand. A particularly positive finding is that young people—schoolchildren and students—regularly use buses to get to school, for activities, or to attend activities. The Košice and Prešov Self-Governing Regions have long provided funding for fare discounts to make travel accessible to young people and other social groups. “The intensive use of these benefits by the younger generation confirms that public funds are being directed toward meaningful and effective measures,” said Rastislav Trnka, chairman of the Košice Self-Governing Region.

In the Košice Region, 16,585,197 passengers were transported, and in the Prešov Region, 18,797,440. Compared to 2024, only a slight decrease in passenger numbers was recorded last year—approximately 230,000. This difference is due to the varying number of holidays in both years and the number of “long” weekends, which significantly affect residents’ mobility. Real demand for travel thus remains stable.

Revenue from fares in 2025 exceeded 33 million euros, with passengers traveling a total of 502,416,245 kilometers.

“The introduction of monthly passes has proven to be an extremely successful move. Over the past year, we’ve seen a significant increase in the number of passengers using them, with monthly passes being the most popular. People have come to love this system—they don’t have to buy a ticket for every ride, they travel without additional costs, and they save a significant amount of money. This is one of the reasons they remain loyal to bus transportation. We therefore plan to continue expanding our offerings and improving services for our passengers so that public transportation becomes even more convenient and attractive,” said Milan Majerský, Chairman of the Prešov Self-Governing Region.

Subscription tickets—monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual—were introduced in August 2024 along with the zone-based fare system. From their launch in August through December 2024, 10,674 passengers purchased them. During the same period in 2025, 18,017 monthly passes were sold, representing a 69% increase.

TS: KSK, PSK, IDS Východ
Foto: shutterstock