Page contents
- Introduction
- Summary of eligibility
- Decide which card(s) you need
- Apply online for your student fare card (after 1 August)
- Receive your card
- Replace or change your student fare card (after 1 August)
Introduction
The student fare card scheme for the 2022/23 academic year (starting September 2022) is open from 1 August 2022
The student fare card scheme gives students aged 16-18 who live in Surrey reduced rate bus and/or rail travel to schools and colleges.
There are two separate cards available from us – a bus student fare card and a train student fare card.
The National Rail 16-17 Saver railcard allows students 50% off single, return and season tickets. Please note: this scheme is not administered by Surrey County Council.
Summary of eligibility
To be eligible for a student fare card, you must be:
- aged 16-18 (under 19 years old on 1 September in the year of application) and
- living in one of the administrative boroughs/districts of Surrey and
- attending a full-time education course on the date of the card's issue. Paid apprenticeships are not eligible for a student fare card.
and:
- your journey must start and/or finish in Surrey.
Decide which card(s) you need
Select the appropriate card below to see detailed information, including costs, eligible journeys and conditions of use.
Bus student fare card
The student fare card scheme for the 2022/23 academic year (starting September 2022) is open from 1 August 2022
- The card allows 16-18 year old Surrey students in full-time education to travel on Surrey buses for the under 16s fare on single and return tickets only. Contact individual bus operators to find out whether they apply the discount to season tickets, as this is at their discretion.
- It can be used for eligible bus journeys only (see below).
- It costs £25.
- It is valid from the date of issue until 31 August 2023 (for applications made after 1 August 2022).
If you also need to travel by train to complete your journey, you should also apply for a train student fare card.
Eligible bus journeys
A bus student fare card can only be used for travel to and from school or college. Your journey must start or finish in the 11 boroughs/districts of Surrey. If you need to change onto a bus route operating totally outside the county, you'll not be able to use your card for that part of the journey.
The following bus companies have agreed to charge the under-16 rate for any journey which starts or finishes in the 11 boroughs/districts of Surrey, including evenings, weekends, and school/college holidays.
- Arriva (service Surrey and West Sussex)
- Cobham Chatterbus
- Compass Bus
- Falcon Buses
- First
- Hallmark Connections: Students (16-19) travelling on Hallmark buses can redeem student/child fares with just their college/university student card.
- London General
- Metrobus
- Quality Line
- Safeguard
- Southdown
- Stagecoach
- White Bus Services
London buses who no longer accept student fare cards
The card cannot be used on services operated for Transport for London. Routes affected are:
- 116, 117 and 166
- 203, 216, 235, 290 and 293
- 403, 404, 405, 406, 407, 411, 418, 434, 464, 465, 466, 467 and 470
- K3
- R68
- S1
(Note that some of the above routes have the same number as other bus services that operate in Surrey which do accept the SCC bus student fare card; please follow the above links to see if your bus route is affected)
Students who use these routes to travel to school or college can take advantage of Transport for London's 16+ Oyster photocard. The Oyster card will enable Surrey students to pay-as-you-go at half the adult single fare. For further details contact 0845 300 7000 or visit the Transport for London website.
Conditions of use
- The bus student fare card is not transferable and can only be used by the person to whom it is issued, bearing a true likeness of the holder. It remains the property of Surrey County Council and must be surrendered if the person stops attending a full time education course.
- On presentation of a valid bus student fare card the holder is entitled to travel to and from school or college, at the same fare as someone under 16. The card can only be accepted for the home to school/college journey printed on the front, which starts and/or finishes in the administrative county of Surrey. A student can choose any Surrey operator for this journey.
- The holder is entitled to travel at the under 16 rate for any journey which starts and/or finishes in the administrative County of Surrey, including evenings, weekends and school/college holidays. Please see the above list of bus companies who have agreed to this additional concession.
- Possession of a bus student fare card does not infer any rights upon the holder, other than those of a fare paying customer, and is subject to the operator's conditions of carriage.
- Refunds will not be considered for any reason.
- A bus student fare card is not valid if altered or defaced in any way.
- Purchase of a bus student fare card is deemed as acceptance of these conditions.
- Any breach of these conditions or the regulations and conditions of the bus operator will render the holder liable to prosecution and result in the withdrawal of the student fare card.
Train student fare card
National 16 to 17 Saver
The National Rail 16 to 17 Saver offers 16 to 17 year olds:
- a 50% discount off standard anytime, off-peak, PlusBus, advance and season tickets.
- Can be used on South Western Railways, Southern and Great Western Railway network and across the National Rail network (except on ScotRail and Caledonian Sleeper services)
- The cards cost £30 and are valid for one year or until your 18th birthday.
- a season ticket purchased before your 18th birthday can run up to 4 months after you turn 18. For example if you turn 18 in February then you can purchase a season ticket which will still give you 50% discount for travel up until June 2023
Please visit the 16-17 Saver website to apply and for further details.
Surrey 17-18 Train student fare card
The student fare card scheme for the 2022/23 academic year (starting September 2022) is open from 1 August 2022
- The Surrey County Council issued train student fare card allows 17-18 year old Surrey students (must be under 19 on 1 September 2022) in full-time education to buy a season ticket (only for travel to and from home and school/college) at a reduced rate of 1/3 off the standard adult cost.
- Season tickets are available for seven days (minimum), one month, and between one month and one year.
- You can also use the card to buy single and return tickets after 6pm during the week and at weekends for leisure journeys.
- The card costs £25.
- It is valid from the date of issue until 31 August 2023 (for applications made after 1 August 2022).
- If you are 16 and would like to apply for a Surrey train student fare card please contact us.
If you also need to travel by bus to complete your journey, you should also apply for a bus student fare card.
Eligible train journeys
- Your start, finish and transfer (via) stations must all be on the qualifying stations list and
- your journey must start and/or finish in the administrative county of Surrey, at one of the 83 stations listed in bold print on the list, and
- your journey must be made via the rail lines specified in the network of train routes map (PDF)
Conditions of use
- The train student fare card is not transferable and is not valid if altered or defaced.
- It can only be used by the person to whom it is issued, bearing a true likeness of the holder. It remains the property of Surrey County Council and must be surrendered if the person stops attending a full time education course.
- A Surrey train student fare card and tickets issued in conjunction with it are subject to the National Rail Conditions of Carriage.
- Purchase of a train student fare card is deemed as acceptance of these conditions.
- Any breach of the conditions will result in the withdrawal of the fare card and render the holder liable to prosecution.
- A season ticket must be purchased (minimum seven days). Daily single and return tickets are only available after 6pm and at weekends for leisure journeys. These cannot be used for travel to/from school/college.
Apply online
The student fare card scheme for the 2022/23 academic year (starting September 2022) is open from 1 August 2022
There are two separate cards available from us, a bus fare card and a train fare card.
Travelling by train aged 16 or 17? The National Rail 16-17 Saver railcard can be purchased directly from the 16-17 Saver website, it allows students 50% off single, return and season tickets. Please note: this scheme is not administered by Surrey County Council.
Please contact the student fare card team if you require assistance student.farecards@surreycc.gov.uk.
(Please first read the sections below: 'Before you apply' and 'You will need').
You can apply up to 28 days in advance of your sixteenth birthday.
You can apply for a bus fare card or a train student fare card depending on which you need for your journey between home and school/college.
You can only apply for both cards if you need to use both modes of transport to complete your journey. The bus and train cards cannot be used as alternatives to each other. If you apply for both, you will need to pay the application fee for each card.
Before you apply
Use the Traveline journey planner to check your journey options including routes, service numbers and transport company details.
If you will be using trains, check the daily fare prices against discounted season ticket prices. On a limited number of occasions it is cheaper to purchase return tickets at the full adult price rather than applying for a fare card.
If you will be using buses, check with individual bus operators for additional discounts available.
You will need:
- date of birth, postal address and an email address
- school/college details
- journey information
- digital photo, ready to upload
- credit/debit card for online payment
Note that student fare cards ordered today will expire on 31 August 2023.
Receive your card
The student fare card scheme for the 2022/23 academic year (starting September 2022) is open from 1 August 2022.
Successful applications for 2022/23
Your student fare care will be sent to your school or college. Enquire at student services or the school reception for your card.
- If you apply by 19 August 2022 we aim to have your card ready for collection for the start of the autumn term ( September 2022)
- If you apply after 19 August 2022 we aim to have your card ready for collection in 10 working days.
If your card has not arrived at your school/college within 10 working days, please contact us via email: student.farecards@surreycc.gov.uk
Unsuccessful applications
If you are not eligible for a student fare card, you may be able to purchase a concessionary seat, if a spare seat is available. There is also help available with the cost of travelling to sixth form or college.
Files available to download
-
Map of qualifying stations for train student fare card (PDF)
Network of train routes in the student fare card scheme.