Plan your journey
We offer different passes that let your child or young person:
- Travel on hired coaches and buses reserved for schools
- Travel on public buses in East Sussex
- Travel by rail in East Sussex
Plan a journey on public transport
Plan a journey and access current travel information using Traveline.
Plan a coach journey to and from a school
Your child can access their coach journey using the Education Travel Permit.
How to use your Education Travel Permit
Plan a journey on a public bus
Your child or young person can access their journey on a public bus using your Freedom Pass.
- Find timetables and maps to plan your route
- How to use your Freedom Pass
- Pay for a replacement bus pass
How to use your Rail Key smart card
- We email you a link so you can confirm your details with Southern Rail
- Southern Rail sends you your Key smart card
- Activate your card using the Southern app or at a train station
- Plan your journey
- Your young person can start using their free rail travel
How new cardholders activate their card and tickets through the Southern On Track App
If you have a smartphone with NFC (which is used for cashless payments). You can try activating the ticket on the Southern On Track app.
- At the dashboard press the menu button
- If you are activating the Key card select ‘View/Activate your Key tickets’. If you have already activated the card you can select ‘Load your Key tickets’.
- Tap the card to the back of the phone
The app doesn’t have to be on the cardholder’s phone, you can do this on any smartphone with the app.
Activating the ticket at a Southern rail station
To do this, touch the Key Smartcard on the smart barrier or card validator (if the station has no barriers). The card is now ready for use.
This option only works at Southern stations. We recommend using the app if you can.
If you have any issues activating your card please call Southern Customer Services on 0345 127 2920. Select option 4 to speak to an advisor.
How to use the rail service
- Your child or young person must carry their Key card.
- If your child or young person loses their Key card, you will need a replacement.
- Complete the replacement travel pass form if you need a replacement