Integrated transport system (IDS)

An integrated transport system (IDS, „integrovaný dopravní systém“) combines the public transport of different operators in a given area, typically trains, regional buses and city transport, into one network. It has a single transfer tariff, common tickets and coordinated timetables. Passengers can therefore make a journey with the necessary changes on one ticket, regardless of which operator runs each service.

Who organises an IDS

Act No. 194/2010 Coll. on public passenger transport services refers to integrated public services. Regions and municipalities may, alone or together, set up an organiser: a legal entity that sets up and runs the integrated system. The organiser may be entrusted with preparing the transport service plan or signing contracts with operators on behalf of the region or municipality. Only a region or municipality may hold a stake in it, and it may not operate public bus or rail services itself. Integration should also include a single information service, i.e. timetable and fare information in one place.

One example is Prague Integrated Transport (PID), which includes the metro, trams, rail, city and suburban buses, the Petřín funicular and ferries, and covers Prague and the surrounding part of the Central Bohemian Region. Other regions have their own systems, such as the IDS of the South Moravian Region.

What it means for a buyer

• Living within an IDS usually means you can commute to town, work or school on a single season ticket, changes included.
• Fares in an IDS usually depend on the tariff zones the journey passes through; what matters is which zone the nearest stop is in.
• How many services actually run is shown by the timetables; some systems also publish them as open data in GTFS format, PID for example.

Transport links, together with local amenities, are among the main parts of the location analysis.

What to watch out for

IDS tariffs and tickets apply within the area of the system. For journeys across the system boundary or into a neighbouring region, check how the tariffs connect. Lines, zones and fares can change, so always check the organiser's current tariff.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between an IDS and city transport?

City transport (MHD) runs within one town. An IDS may include the city transport of several towns, regional buses and trains across a whole region under one tariff.

How do I find out which zone an address belongs to?

By the nearest stop. Organisers publish lists of stops with their tariff zones and network maps; PID, for example, also releases them as open data. Connections to the catchment school or to work are best checked in the current timetable.