Slovakia and Serbia see transport ticket sales rise despite price hikes

In Slovakia, the price of a yearly highway toll sticker rose from €60 to €90 at the start of 2025. Despite the increase, motorists bought a record 2.9 million e‑stickers in the first half of the year, a 10 % rise over the same period in 2024. The 10‑day e‑sticker was the most popular with 1.2 million units sold, followed by the 365‑day and one‑day stickers, each around 740 000 units. NDS officials, including board member Peter Braška, attributed the growth to new payment options such as Apple Pay and Google Pay and to drivers planning longer trips.

In Serbia, railway tickets rose by about 10 % in July, with the extra revenue earmarked for service and infrastructure upgrades by the state operator Srbijavoz. Passengers, however, complained that the higher fares are not matched by improvements. A survey highlighted frequent problems with the mobile ticket‑buying app, limited payment methods at stations, extra surcharges on higher‑class trains, and difficulties obtaining refunds for delayed services. Critics also noted that ticket machines accept only cards, not cash, and that refunds are hard to claim.