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The zone tariff enable the introduction of subscription tickets (monthly, quarterly, half-yearly, annual), both zone and network-wide. Subscription tickets enable regular daily travellers to travel significantly cheaper than if they buy a single fare ticket each time. Holders of subscription tickets have at their disposal an unlimited number of any journeys in the territory they choose, by choosing from the tariff zones (in the case of zone subscription tickets), or in the entire territory of eastern Slovakia (in the case of network-wide subscription tickets). The advantage is also the shortening of the time that it takes to process passengers at stops, which will speed up transport and increase the attractiveness of travel. In addition, the zone tariff is a technical prerequisite for the future involvement of railways and public transport in individual cities of eastern Slovakia in the IDS.

In the case of a distance tariff, the amount of the fare depends on the specific distance zone, which the route for which the passenger buys a ticket falls into. For example, on the road from Bardejov to Košice, which is 78 km, this route falls within the tariff band of 71-80 km, which has a fixed amount of the travelling cost in the valid tariff. In the case of a zone tariff, the amount of the travelling cost depends on the number of tariff zones passed.
The territory of eastern Slovakia will be divided into tariff zones, shown through a clear map scheme of tariff zones. Tariff zones will be used to calculate the fare and define the territorial validity of the ticket. The amount of the fare will depend on the number of tariff zones. Each zone on the route is counted only once for the purpose of calculating the fare, even if the passenger passes through it several times during the trip. If the passage through a certain zone is caused by a detour, such a zone will not affect the amount of the fare.

The change in the tariff bring benefit for the majority of regular passengers who decide to buy subscription tickets (monthly, quarterly, half-yearly or annual), which will allow them to travel significantly cheaper per trip compared to a single fare ticket. There is also an advantage for travellers on longer distances, who are able to purchase a transfer ticket for 2 connections, while the price of such a ticket is cheaper than the sum of the prices of two separate tickets for each connection. Advantageous subscriptions and transfer tickets are linked exclusively to the transport card. In the case of passengers who prefer other payment methods than through a transport card, the fare increased. The intention is to motivate people to switch to the loyalty system of transport cards, which bring them favourable prices and, thanks to faster boarding equipment, enable public transport to speed up.

For passengers who will continue to buy single fare non-transferable tickets (which was the only type of ticket available), nothing changes from the point of view of reporting when purchasing a ticket. The passenger gets into the vehicle, informs the driver of the destination and the driver issues a ticket. In the case of single fare transfer tickets (the purchase of which is possible only from the transport card), the passenger reports to the driver the stop at which he is transferring and the final destination of the trip (example of the report: “Prešov station, with change to Košice.”). The passenger pays the total price of the fare with the transport card and the driver issues him a ticket. On the next connection, the passenger just informs the driver of the destination, and the validity of the ticket is verified by attaching the card. Therefore, the passenger does not need to familiarize himself with the tariff zones when purchasing single fare tickets (both transferable and non-transferable).

When paying the fare from the transport card, the passenger pays a significantly lower fare than when paying in cash. The transport card also allows the passenger to purchase a transfer ticket for 2 connections or a one-day ticket (for unlimited travel throughout eastern Slovakia until the end of the given day), which is not possible with other payments than from the transport card. At the same time, the passenger is able to upload monthly, quarterly, half-yearly and annual subscription tickets to the transport card with the necessary identification data.

The transport card, valid without restrictions with any carrier involved in the IDS Východ tariff system, can be obtained from any carrier involved in this tariff system (ARRIVA Michalovce, BUS Karpaty, eurobus, SAD Humenné, SAD Poprad and SAD Prešov) or from any carrier involved in the joint clearing of transport cards Slovenský dopravný pas (Slovak Transport Passport), either online at www.ubian.sk (or via the UBIAN mobile application) or in person at the carriers’ customer service centres. In the case of online ordering of a physical transport card, the card will arrive at the passenger’s home by post for a two euro fee (in Slovakia only), or the passenger can pick it up free of charge at one of the customer service centres of the carrier from which he ordered it.

By default, it is possible to top up the transport card on the bus with the driver or in the carrier’s customer centers. If the passenger wants to top up and manage the transport card online, he must purchase or register it at www.ubian.sk (or through the UBIAN mobile application). A transport card issued by any carrier involved in the IDS Východ tariff system (ARRIVA Michalovce, eurobus, SAD Humenné, SAD Poprad, SAD Prešov SK) or from any carrier involved in the joint clearing of transport cards Slovenský dopravný pas (Slovak Transport Passport) is valid without restrictions for all carriers involved in this system (regardless of which carrier the passenger bought or topped up the card).

The ISIC card you can still use as a transport card and it is possible to upload all types of travel tickets. Old transport cards issued by bus operators are still valid until their expiry date. Single fare and one-day tickets can be purchased from any valid transport cards. Monthly, quarterly, half-yearly and annual subscription tickets can only be uploaded to a transport card with a photo, the passenger’s name and surname, the card’s validity period and the card’s identification number. Every student card (so-called ISIC) meets this condition.

This is only possible in the case of the same journey of a passenger who holds a transport card and one or more fellow passengers. These fellow travellers are only able to purchase a one-time travel document from the same transport card, provided that the journey is identical to that of the holder of the transport card. It does not matter whether the passenger (transport card holder) is traveling on a single fare or subscription ticket. If fellow passengers want to claim a discount, they must prove it in accordance with the tariff.

The transport card is an exclusive carrier of subscription tickets. The one-day network-wide ticket is the only subscription ticket that can be purchased directly on the bus from the driver, while any valid transport card is sufficient for its purchase. The validity of a one-day ticket cannot be extended. A monthly, quarterly, half-yearly and annual subscription ticket can be purchased or topped up (extended validity) either online via the e-shop at www.ubian.sk (or via the UBIAN mobile application) or in person at the carriers’ customer centers. In the bus from the driver, such a ticket can only be extended its validity by the same time. Therefore, it is not possible to buy a completely new monthly, quarterly, half-yearly or annual ticket from the driver, which the passenger did not previously have on the transport card, nor it is possible to extend it to other zones from the driver.

For passengers who are interested in subscription tickets valid for more than 7 zones, network-wide tickets are offered, which are valid without restrictions in all tariff zones of IDS Východ (that is, in the entire territory of eastern Slovakia). The price of the network-wide subscription tickets is only slightly higher than the price of the 7-zone subscription tickets.

One common zone tariff for buses, trains and public transport is a necessary prerequisite for traveling “on 1 ticket” by several modes of transport with different transfers. This is a condition for the introduction of an integrated transport system (IDS), an important feature of which is the same fare price regardless of the means of transport used. The distance of the routes of suburban buses, railway lines, or public transport lines is different, so it is not possible to achieve the same ticket price when traveling from point A to point B with a distance tariff. On the contrary, the zone tariff ensures this possibility. Another feature of the IDS is the possibility of purchasing subscription tickets (monthly, quarterly, etc.) with general validity for the territory determined by the passenger by choosing from the tariff zones, and within which he can use all types of transport covered by the common tariff without any restrictions. Tariff zones are essential for this.
The Prešov and Košice self-governing regions, in cooperation with the regional cities of Prešov and Košice, are preparing the integration of urban public transport into the common tariff of IDS Východ, which will enable travel “for 1 ticket”. In addition to public transport in Košice and Prešov, it is also planned to involve smaller public transport in other cities of eastern Slovakia. The time horizon of the involvement of individual city transports will depend on the intensity of cooperation between individual cities and their carriers, as well as the willingness of the given city and its carrier to accept the common tariff and transport conditions of IDS Východ. The integration of rail transport into the tariff system of IDS Východ is also planned. The time horizon will depend mainly on the dynamics of negotiations on the topic of common tariff conditions with the contractor of rail passenger transport, which is the Ministry of Transport of the Slovak Republic, as well as on the technical readiness of the railway carrier to enter the IDS Východ tariff system.

In this case, all stops of the municipality belong to both fare zones. For the purpose of fare calculation, the cheaper option is always applied.