Two aspects of this article have been examined;
Rail
National Rail Travel
Regional Rail Travel
Urban Rail Travel
Transnational Rail Travel
Visiting Hungary
National Rail Travel
In Hungary a blind or partially sighted passanger is granted 90% discount of the ordinary fares, his or her guide dog can travel free of charge.
If the blind passsanger has no guide dog, the accompanying person is entitled for the same 90% discount as the blind person.
Compare with other countries Top
Regional Rail Travel
The regional concession scheme is the same as the national scheme : the blind and partially sighted passenger and the guide or guide dog all receive a 90% discount.
Urban Rail Travel
Travelling by Urban Train /HÉV/ within the administrative boundaries of Budapest is Free of Charge for a Blind passanger as well as for his or her Guide or Guide Dog.
After having crossed the adminsitrative boundaries of Budapest /outside of Budapest/ the guide dog may continue to travle by urbain train free of charge, while the blind passanger and his accompanying guide /in lack of a guide dog/ are granted a 90% discount.
Transnational Rail Travel
The Hungarian Railways (MAV) and other Hungarian carriers (GYSEV) signed the IUR Agreement on Rail Transport for Blind People and their Guide issued in 1997 and amended in 2005. Visually impaired people residing in and travelling to any of the countries who signed this Agreement are entitled to a free ticket for their guide or guide dog provided that the return ticket is purchased in the country where the disability card was issued. In practice the Agreement does not apply to additional fees such as ‘reservation' or ‘couchette' which must be paid in full for both passengers. Furthermore, a survey conducted by EBU in 2000 revealed that in many countries the Agreement was not well known or was simply ignored by transport operators and authorities.
Visiting Hungary
Visitors coming from a EU Member State are granted the same discounts as a Hungarian nativee..
Guide Dogs
-
How many guide dog users are there in your country? The number of guide dogs varies on a day to day basis as new dogs enter service and others are withdrawn. Please provide an estimate figure.
About 140.
-
What regulations, if any, govern guide dogs access to:
-
Public buildings (administration, hospitals, schools, etc.)
Guide dogs, their owners and their trainers are to be allowed into all public buildings and institutes.
-
Cultural and sports facilities (cinemas, theatres, museums, libraries, stadiums etc.)
Guide dogs, their owners and their trainers are to be allowed into all public buildings and institutes.
-
Leisure facilities (restaurants, hotels, holiday centres, beaches, etc.)
Guide dogs, their owners and their trainers are to be allowed into all public buildings and institutes.
-
Retail facilities (supermarkets, department stores, shops, etc.)
Guide dogs, their owners and their trainers are to be allowed into all public buildings and institutes.
-
Public transport
They have unrestricted access, backed up by law.
-
trains
-
underground
-
buses
-
taxis
-
planes
-
ships
Guide dogs are allowed to travel on any kind of public transportation without a muzzle, free of charge.
-
-
What are the regulations for the import and export of dogs into/from your country, including quarantine and vaccination procedures?
When a dog is imported to Hungary an animal passport is needed set out by a veterinary, in which the administered vaccines and relevant dates are entered. No quarantine is necessary but anti-rabies vaccination is especially required. All dogs travelling to and from Hungary have to be vaccinated against rabies (vaccination has to be administered at least 21 days in advance and must be valid at least for one year) and be identified through transponder chip.
-
Are exceptions made for guide dogs?
No
-
Are the regulations such as to restrict spontaneous voyages?
No
-
How much time is needed to fulfil the requirements?
-
For the first time
Some time (not defined) needed to fulfil administrative requirements, i.e. health certificates provided for by law (validity of health certificates: 30 days)
-
For subsequent visits with the same dog
See above
-
-
-
Is there a certification process for the training and provision of guide dogs? If yes, please provide basic details, in particular on the difference between mandatory and optional certifications.
Yes, in 2010 a unified training and provision system came into force, valid for all dog training schools.
-
Is there an allowance or other financial aid to help guide dog users with the upkeep of their animals (food, veterinary, etc.)?
There is no allowance or any other financial aid to help guide dog users. On condition we find a sponsor, the dog owners can get vaccines and dog food at – to a minimum extend – cheaper prices. There is a foundation which may partly reimburse the veterinary costs of sick guide dogs if the owner applies for a support by the foundation.