The Use of Payment Cards in Public Transportation.

IDOL, the integrated public transit system of the Liberec Region, has long taken a progressive approach to cashless payments. This trend will continue with the modernization of the fare collection system.

Most IDOL passengers take advantage of electronic transfer fares and fares paid via the electronic wallet, which is part of the Opuscard transit card. This functionality is also available on the new generation Opuscard+.

However, the transition to individual IDOL paper tickets—which, starting in September, allow transfers between connections and lines within their validity period—also opens up new potential for payment cards. “The use of payment cards is currently expanding in all areas, and public transportation cannot lag behind in this regard,” states Jan Sviták, statutory deputy governor of the Liberec Region for transportation

“Until now, the option to pay by credit card within the IDOL system has been used only sporadically on routes equipped with newer ticketing systems, where paper tickets were not integrated, and even the fare amounts varied depending on the specific carrier,” explains Otto Pospíšil, managing director of the regional transportation coordinator, KORID LK, describing the current situation. However, this is now changing radically, and the availability of credit card payments is increasing rapidly.

The first significant step toward credit card use was taken by the Idolka mobile app. “It is through this app that passengers purchase individual fares directly from their bank accounts using a credit card,” says Otto Pospíšil. “An e-shop for multi-day passes has also been added to the app, and starting in September, payment cards will be accepted not only at nearly all fare validation devices in IDOL vehicles but also, gradually, at selected advance ticket sales locations.”

So where will it be possible to use payment cards within the IDOL system?

Payment cards will offer the greatest benefit in the IDOL e-shop, where passengers will be able to purchase multi-day IDOL “Časovka” and “Síťovka” passes from the comfort of their own homes. Passengers will have a valid time-based ticket loaded onto their ID card via credit card within just a few minutes, and the credit card itself can be used as an ID card after personalization. The full range of fare options can also be purchased using a credit card in the Idolka mobile app.

“In addition to the e-shop, time-based and network tickets will also be available for purchase at service points and station ticket offices within the IDOL network. We want to support cashless payment options there as well,” notes Jan Sviták. “It wasn’t that long ago when, for example, passengers at the Liberec train station couldn’t pay for a quarterly pass any other way than with cash.”

Currently, card payments are accepted at the IDOL/OPUSCARD Customer Center in the Evropský dům in Liberec, at the Frýdlantská service point near the Liberec City Hall, and at select train ticket counters. “However, we are working with other service locations to roll out payment terminals, and as early as September, the option for cashless purchases could be expanded to additional locations,” says Otto Pospíšil.

And what about the option to pay individual fares by card on trains and buses in the IDOL network?

With the launch of the modernized ticketing system, the option to pay by credit card has been expanded to include regular bus routes in the IDOL network, trains, and—in full—public transit in Jablonec nad Nisou, Česká Lípa, and Turnov—all at a discounted cashless fare. Later, once the ticketing equipment at the Liberec transit authority has been modernized, this will also be possible on public transit in Liberec. “We want to continue to incentivize cashless payments through differentiated fares, and we’re pleased that this idea is also supported by cities with public transit systems that have the authority to set fare rates,” says Jan Sviták, summarizing the shared understanding of the IDOL fare concept. “This isn’t just a benefit for passengers, but also for the transit operators themselves, because handling cash not only slows down the boarding process but also incurs bank transaction fees.”

However, when purchasing a single-ride ticket, it’s important to note that the Liberec Region presents a relatively complex situation in terms of securing a data signal—which is often necessary to complete a payment transaction—and therefore this option should be viewed as supplementary; it cannot always be guaranteed. Passengers should therefore be prepared with an alternative payment option, such as the reliable Opuscard e-wallet, the Idolka mobile app, or cash on hand.