The Volán companies want to raise bus fares by 7 pc but there has been no agreement yet with the Ministry of Finance. The bus companies have more and more problems and mainly distant villages are affected by the reduction of services. There are 24 Volán companies and they could raise prices fixed by the authorities only by 4,5 pc but this is not enough the keep the standard of services.
The Ministry of Finance probably does not want to undertake the payment of state subsidies for the increased fares. Last year Volán companies wanted a 10,3 pc raise but the tariffs were increased only by 3 pc. The problem is even more difficult because acccording to a directive of the European Union services should not be maintained if not profitable from the beginning of this year. The bus companies have a state budget of HUF 100 million to maintain loss-making services but this seems to be much less than necessary.
Translated by Péter Szentmihályi Szabó
origo.hu
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