We're celebrating our 15th anniversary! Buses in 2009 and today.

2009

Do you remember the year 2009? What kind of buses did we ride? Most of them were high-floor buses, particularly the Karosa 934 and 954 models. To a lesser extent, the first low-floor buses began to appear, such as those from the manufacturer TEDOM. Many vehicles did not have uniform markings, and KORID LK faced a major challenge in implementing the IDOL standards.

2010

In 2010, the first transport optimizations took place in the Tanvald and Semily/Jilemnice regions. These changes primarily simplified the route network in the affected areas, sometimes accompanied by significant changes in service schedules, but also introduced a three-digit route numbering system, as is common in other integrated transport systems (IDS).

2011

In 2011, further optimizations took place, this time in the Frýdlant region. These changes involved closely integrating bus service with the backbone rail network. The creation of these connections in the following years led to increased use of public transportation as a whole. The changes also included the integration of routes into the JIH industrial zone, including routes from Poland. Similar changes were also implemented that same year in the areas around Chrastava and Hrádek nad Nisou.

2012

How can we serve locations with very few passengers, or where there is no regular demand for transportation? The solution was the introduction of on-demand transportation, i.e., the Radiobus or on-call bus. All you have to do is call 30 minutes before the scheduled departure, and the bus will stop at a remote stop (village) that is not on the route’s direct path. This system is still in operation today.

2014

Since December 2014, technical and quality standards have been included in all contracts with transport providers. A period of gradual fleet renewal began, shifting toward low-floor vehicles equipped with information systems. As of the same date, full management and responsibility for preparing timetables were transferred to KORID LK. And as part of optimization efforts throughout the Semily district, so-called interregional backbone routes were introduced to supplement train service on routes where a backbone connection cannot be provided by train.

2015

There are numerous opportunities to coordinate urban and suburban transportation. In 2015, through the joint efforts of KORID LK and the public transit authorities of Liberec and Jablonec nad Nisou, urban line No. 18 was extended to Bedřichov. More frequent service throughout the year and low-floor buses also contributed to a gradual increase in ridership, and we continue to expand and strengthen our service to this day.

That same year also saw the second round of service optimization in the Tanvald region, which this time was related to the fact that, following repairs to the railway line, it became possible to run trains between Liberec and Tanvald every 30 minutes.

2018

This year, the new I/14 highway—or rather, its realignment—was opened between Liberec and Jablonec nad Nisou, which also shortened the travel time for bus route 141, which runs between the two cities via Rýnovice and Mšeno. Along with this change, regular weekend service was also introduced on the route, and in response to steadily growing passenger demand, we are continuously increasing service on Route 141.

2019

Not everything goes according to plan, but nothing ventured, nothing gained. In August 2019, the first electric bus in the Liberec Region was put into trial operation between Tanvald, Souš, and Smědava. It was a minibus, because a larger bus could not obtain an exemption due to drinking water source protection regulations—a restriction that also applies to conventional-powered vehicles. There was great interest in the service, but this vehicle simply wasn’t built for such demanding gradients and had to be taken out of service at the end of the summer vacation. Perhaps in the future, the idea of a transport service between Smědava and Souš can be revived.

The year 2019 was also a turning point in terms of contract arrangements. New contracts brought significant improvements to public transportation in the Liberec, Jablonec, and Semily regions.

2020

The first bus on the new Route 691 departed from Hrádek nad Nisou on Saturday, August 1. Along its 66-km route, it crosses the national borders of the Czech Republic, Germany, and Poland a total of five times. The route offers the opportunity to travel from trains arriving in Zittau via Bogatynia, Frýdlant, Raspenava, and Nové Město pod Smrkem all the way to the resort town of Świeradów Zdrój on the Polish side of the Jizera Mountains.

This year, a new service concept was introduced for Zlaté návrší, resulting in more frequent connections between Horní Mísečky and Jilemnice (Martinice v Krk.) via Line 991, and to Rokytnice nad Jizerou via Line 995. Did you know that Zlaté návrší is home to the highest-altitude public transit stop in the Czech Republic?

Starting this year, passengers in the Liberec Region can also regularly ride 15-meter low-floor vehicles, which offer more seating and greater comfort on the region’s most heavily used routes.

2021

In cooperation with the Central Bohemian Region, preparations were completed for an extensive inter-regional network of long-distance and local routes, and implementation began in December, thereby connecting the IDS IDOL and PID systems, including overlapping service areas. An increase in the scope of inter-regional service was also implemented, particularly on routes to and from Prague. Part of these changes involved incorporating the Jablonec Express into the inter-regional network concept, which made it possible to expand service offerings between Jablonec and Prague.

That same year, optimizations were also carried out in the Českolipsko region, and new contracts were signed, which brought about significant improvements to the vehicle fleet in this area as well.

2022–23

In cooperation with the Hradec Králové Region and the carrier KAD, we secured regular backbone service starting in December 2022 via the inter-regional route Špindlerův Mlýn – Jilemnice – Jičín – Prague. A year later, the first major changes related to this development took place in the Jilemnice area. Routes in the vicinity of Studenec and Horek u Staré Paky were adjusted.

2024

Starting in June 2024, a bus route to Ještěd was introduced, which at least partially replaces the cable car.

Starting in September, another level of on-demand transportation was introduced on a trial basis: the “taxibus” under the TvůjBus IDOL brand. This is a flexible and modern mode of transportation that is not tied to a specific route or schedule. Will this be the future of public transportation? Only time will tell.

Click here for the PDF poster on the development of bus transportation .