ZSR / ZSSK
ZSR / ZSSK
The ZSR (Železnice Slovenskej republiky) and its associated train operator ZSSK (Železničná spoločnosť Slovensko) are the Slovak state railways and the most important railway operator in Slovakia. (Insert image here)
Summary
- ZSSK accepts FIP free travel and FIP 50 tickets
- Reservation required in IC and SC trains
- Reservation required in 1st class in all trains
- Offers for free travel for certain groups (children between 6 and 16, students up to 26, and pensioners from 62 years) regardless of FIP
Validity of FIP Tickets
FIP free tavel passes: ✅
FIP 50 tickets: ✅
FIP free travel passes and FIP 50 tickets are valid on ZSSK connections with the restriction that some (or all in 1st class) trains require reservations. For cross-border journeys, either a continuous FIP 50 ticket or FIP free travel passes from both countries must be available.
Train Categories and Reservations
Reservation required for SC and IC trains. Other ZSSK trains only require a reservation in 1st class.
🔽 SuperCity (SC) ⚠️
Description:
Fast tilting trains (Pendolino) running between Prague (Czech Republic) and Košice, with few stops.
Reservation possible: yes
Reservation required: yes
Reservation cost: 🔴
From 7 €
Depending on route and occupancy (including surcharge for train category)
🔽 InterCity (IC) ⚠️
Description:
Long-distance trains operated commercially by ZSSK on the east-west connection in Slovakia (partly also to/from Vienna) with few stops and high average speed.
Reservation possible: yes
Reservation required: yes
Reservation cost: 🔴
From 7 €
Depending on route and occupancy (including surcharge for train category)
🔽 EuroCity (EC) / RailJet (RJ) ⚠️ (1️⃣)
Description:
Cross-border trains between Slovakia and the Czech Republic, Austria, or Hungary. They often run with few stops and relatively high average speed. RJ trains are RailJet trains of the Austrian Federal Railways, which can also be used with ZSSK free travel passes on the Slovak section. Important: RJ is also the abbreviation for RegioJet, where no FIP tickets are valid.
Reservation possible: yes
Reservation required: only in 1st class
Reservation cost: 🟢
2 € (1st class)
1 € (2nd class)
🔽 EuroNight (EN) ⚠️
Description:
EN are international night trains that require reservations and offer the option to pay a surcharge for couchette or sleeper cars. Otherwise, they are similar to EC trains.
Reservation possible: yes
Reservation required: yes
Reservation cost: 🔴
Depending on route and occupancy as well as car category (including surcharge for train category)
🔽 Express (Ex) ⚠️ (1️⃣)
Description:
A type of interregional train with fewer stops than a regional train but more than, for example, IC trains. They often have a dining car and run with comfortable locomotive-hauled trains.
Reservation possible: yes
Reservation required: only in 1st class
Reservation cost: 🟢
2 € (1st class)
1 € (2nd class)
🔽 Rychlik (R) ⚠️ (1️⃣)
Description:
Fast regional trains stopping at the main stations in the region, a type of regional express with very varied rolling stock.
Reservation possible: yes
Reservation required: only in 1st class
Reservation cost: 🟢
2 € (1st class)
1 € (2nd class)
🔽 Osobní vlak (Os) ⚠️ (1️⃣)
Description:
Standard regional trains that usually stop everywhere (there are exceptions). Especially on branch lines, they often run with outdated rolling stock. They are sometimes marketed as S-Bahn trains, but without really running on an S-Bahn schedule.
Reservation possible: yes
Reservation required: only in 1st class
Reservation cost: 🟢
2 € (1st class)
1 € (2nd class)
Ticket and Reservation Purchase
Online
- ZSSK Website:
Reservation: ✅
In the connection search, you can select “I have the ticket already I want to purchase only reservation or additional service” on the English website. Then choose “Reservation” and select “International ticket/Rail Pass” as the discount in the passenger selection, ensuring “Entitled for 100% discount” is selected.
FIP 50 tickets: ⛔ - Other options:
Reservations are also possible via the websites of CD, DB, and ÖBB at partially different prices. IC and SC trains are excluded.
On-site
- ZSR ticket counters:
In Slovakia, there is a comprehensive network of ticket counters even at smaller stations. It is advantageous to speak some Slovak or Czech or have the appropriate translator app, as English (or German) is often not widely spoken.
Reservation: ✅
FIP 50 tickets: ✅ - Other options:
FIP 50 tickets and reservations can also be purchased at CD, DB, and ÖBB travel centers.
On the train
If no ticket counter is available or open, a ticket (or reservation in Ex) can be purchased on board the train from the conductor if approached immediately.1
Arrival and Border Points
Czech Republic
From the Czech Republic, cross-border trains of Ceske Drahy or ZSSK can be used on various routes. An additional FIP 50 ticket or FIP free travel pass of Ceske Drahy is required. Cross-border trains of RegioJet cannot be used with FIP.
Austria
From Austria, cross-border InterCitys, RailJets, and regional trains (REX) are offered. For the InterCity Vienna - Košice, the FIP free travel pass for ZSR is sufficient for the entire route. For all other connections, an additional free travel pass of the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) is required. FIP 50 tickets must be purchased cross-border.
Hungary
From Hungary, both cross-border regional trains and EuroCity trains can be used. On the connection from Bratislava south via the Rajka border crossing to Hegyeshalom, an additional FIP ticket of GySEV is required; in other cases, an additional FIP ticket of MAV-Start is required.
Poland
Currently, no connections are offered between Slovakia and Poland.
Ukraine
Currently, no ZSSK connections are offered to Ukraine.
[^1]Border Points
Railway operator Border Points ČD Čadca (Gr), Hodonin (Gr), Horní Lideč (Gr), Kúty (Gr), Myjava (Gr), Nemšová (Gr), Skalica na Slovensku (Gr) GySEV Rajka (Gr) MÁV Bánréve (Gr), Čaňa (Gr), Fil’akovo (Gr), Komárom (Gr), Sátoralújhely (Gr), Szob (Gr) ÖBB Kittsee (Gr), Marchegg (Gr) PKP Lupkow (Gr), Plaveč (Gr), Skalité (Gr) UZ Čierna nad Tisou (Gr) 
Discounts
Children up to 6 years travel free on ZSSK trains when accompanied by a person aged at least 16 years. In 1st class, this is limited to 2 children; from the 3rd child, 50% of the ticket price is due. In EC trains, an additional 1 € per child is charged in 1st class from the 3rd child. In SC trains, 1 € per child is always charged in 2nd class and 3 € in 1st class. In IC trains, a reservation including a surcharge for the train category must be purchased per child.1
Children between 6 and 16 years, regardless of nationality, have the opportunity to get free travel with ZSSK. However, this involves some effort. The following is required:
- Photo (2x3cm) of the child
- ID of the child (if no ID is available, the combination of the child’s birth certificate and the guardian’s ID is also possible)
This must be presented by the guardian at a ticket counter. Depending on the system available at the counter, registration can either be done immediately or take up to 3 working days. In the end, you get a confirmation that must always be carried on the trains. Additionally, a ticket must still be booked via the ZSSK website by selecting the appropriate travel group (Important: “Entitled for 100% discount” must be selected) for 0 euros. In EC trains, an additional reservation fee of 1 € is added, in SC trains 5 €. IC trains and RJ trains cannot be used.1
Without all the effort, children between 6 and 16 years can travel with a 50% discount. This also allows the use of IC trains with a 1 € fee, in SC trains 1 € in 2nd class and 3 € in 1st class. An official document with a photo, age, date of birth, and (if possible) birth number must be carried.1
For children over 16 years, there is no discount, but students under 26 years and pensioners from 62 years from the EU (as well as students from all over the world studying in Slovakia) can also get free travel, similar to children between 6 and 16 years. Since this is not directly related to FIP, we refer to the page ZSSK Zero Fare.
Special Tariff Conditions
A break in the journey is only possible for distances of 101 km and more.
Buses are excluded from FIP discounts unless they replace a train where FIP would have been recognized (rail replacement service).1
InterCity Vienna - Bratislava - Košice
For the InterCity Vienna - Košice, the FIP free travel pass for ZSR is sufficient for the entire route (also in Austria).1