Apply for a student fare card

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

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Refunds will not be considered for any reason.
6. A bus student fare card is not valid if altered or defaced in any way.
7. Purchase of a bus student fare card is deemed as acceptance of these conditions.
8. 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

1. The train student fare card is not transferable and is not valid if altered or defaced.
2. 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.
3. A Surrey train student fare card and tickets issued in conjunction with it are subject to the National Rail Conditions of Carriage.
4. Purchase of a train student fare card is deemed as acceptance of these conditions.
5. Any breach of the conditions will result in the withdrawal of the fare card and render the holder liable to prosecution.
6. 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.