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Lower fares on East Sussex bus services

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Information on lower fares for bus services in East Sussex that are part of the East Sussex Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) that are funded by the Department for Transport (DfT) can be found below. Updated July 2023.

£5 East Sussex single operator tickets becomes a multi-operator ticket - accepted on other operators' services.  Tickets can be purchased from the bus operator directly.  Either through their app (Brighton & Hove Buses, Stagecoach and Metrobus) or as a paper ticket on all participating operators except Brighton & Hove Buses.

Multi-operator day tickets are accepted on: Stagecoach, Brighton & Hove Buses, Metrobus, Compass, Cuckmere services in East Sussex.

Age related discounts available on the £5 multi-operator day ticket:

  • Under 19s pay £3.20 (36% discount) for the multi-operator day ticket
  • 19 to 29 pay £3.75 (25% discount) for the multi-operator day ticket - available now on all operators services

Please use the East Sussex Age Verification app to verify your age to access these age related fare discounts. Please show identification to the driver if buying a ticket on board the bus.

  • UNACCOMPANIED - £1 single fare for under 19s after 6pm on school days and anytime on non-school days.
  • ACCOMPANIED - Up to four under 19s travel for free with one adult fare paying or concessionary pass passenger.
  • Freedom Weekly Ticket: a reduction from £17.50 to £15 for the Freedom Weekly ticket for under 19s (that's £3 per day if you travel 5 days a week and £2.14 per day if your travel every day of the week).
    • Gives the bus pass holder unlimited (travel on as many bus services as you like with as many operators as you like) on every bus in East Sussex for seven days in a row at all times and days of the year.

All BSIP fare reductions will run to March 31 2025.

Further details on the BSIP fare reductions can be found below.

Stagecoach services

  • £5 East Sussex DayRider ticket for all Stagecoach buses in East Sussex now allow travel on the operators indicated above. This is for journeys starting or finishing in East Sussex, but you can only buy it in East Sussex. The East Sussex DayRider can be purchased on bus or on Stagecoach’s mobile app. Age related, under 19 and 19 to 29, tickets are also available on the app or on the bus.
    • Flexi5 - £20 - £4 per day and Flexi10 - £35 - £3.50 per day, are also available on the Stagecoach app for the East Sussex DayRider.  Please note these 'Flexi' tickets can only be used on Stagecoach services - they are not multi-operator tickets
  • East Sussex family and group travel ticket offering up to 4 under 19s free travel with an adult fare paying or concessionary pass traveller. Available for any Stagecoach journey in East Sussex and also for journeys starting or finishing in East Sussex, but you can only use it with tickets purchased in East Sussex. Proof of age will need to be shown to the driver if requested.  
  • Unaccompanied young people aged under 19 (proof of age may be requested - please use the East Sussex Age Verification app) can make a one way journey for £1 in East Sussex. Please be aware you cannot buy this ticket in Kent.
  • A lower short hop £1.30 fare has now been introduced in Eastbourne.

The above offers are valid on any Stagecoach route that runs through the County of East Sussex.  All trips must either start or end in the East Sussex County Council Area, with the first trip of the day starting in East Sussex.  Individual journeys that are wholly within the Kent County Council area are not valid on this ticket.

More details are available on Stagecoach’s website.

Brighton & Hove Buses and Metrobus Services

East Sussex Day Tickets

  • £5 East Sussex Day Ticket. Valid on any Brighton & Hove or Metrobus route that runs through the county of East Sussex and now allows travel on the operators indicated above. All trips must either start or end in East Sussex.  Buy it on the Brighton & Hove Buses or Metrobus mobile apps.  Age related, under 19 and 19 to 29, tickets are also available on app and on bus.
  • East Sussex family and group travel ticket now allows up to 4 young people to travel free on Brighton & Hove Buses and Metrobus services with an adult fare paying or adult concessionary pass traveller. Young people may be required to show proof of age such as their Brighton & Hove BusID.
  • Unaccompanied young people aged under 19 (proof of age may be requested - please use the East Sussex Age Verification app for on bus purchase or the age verification within the Brighton & Hove Bus and Metrobus app) can make a one-way journey for £1. This offer is available anytime during the Summer school holidays.

The above offers are valid on any Brighton & Hove or Metrobus route that runs through the County of East Sussex.  All trips must either start or end in the East Sussex County Council Area, with the first trip of the day starting in East Sussex.  Individual journeys that are wholly within the Brighton & Hove City Council or West Sussex County Council area are not valid on this ticket.

More details are available on the Brighton & Hove Buses website.

Compass Travel bus services in East Sussex 

Buy these tickets from the bus driver (contactless payment is accepted). They are available for travel on all Compass Travel services within East Sussex and also for travel journeys starting or finishing in East Sussex with the first trip of the day starting in East Sussex and now allow travel on the operators indicated above. 

  • £5 East Sussex day ticket on Compass Travel bus services in East Sussex. Also for journeys starting or finishing in East Sussex, but your first trip must start in East Sussex. Age related, under 19 and 19 to 29, tickets are also available on bus.
  • East Sussex family and group travel ticket offering up to 4 under 19s free travel with an adult fare paying passenger or adult concessionary pass holder. Available for any Compass journey in East Sussex and also for journeys starting or finishing in East Sussex, but your first trip must start in East Sussex. Proof of age must be shown to the driver if requested.  
  • Unaccompanied young people aged under 19 (proof of age may be requested - please use the East Sussex Age Verification app) can make a one-way journey for £1 in East Sussex. Also for journeys starting or finishing in East Sussex, but your first trip must start in East Sussex. 
  • Most Compass Travel single and return fares in East Sussex are significantly reduced.

More details are available on the Compass Travel website.

Cuckmere Buses Services

  • £5 East Sussex day ticket on all Cuckmere Bus services will now allow travel on the operators indicated above. Age related, under 19 and 19 to 29, tickets are also available on bus.
  • East Sussex family and group travel ticket offer allowing up to 4 young people to travel free with an adult fare paying passenger or concessionary pass traveller. Young people must show their proof of age.
  • Unaccompanied young people aged under 19 (proof of age may be requested - please use the East Sussex Age Verification app) can make a one-way journey for £1.

More details are available on the Cuckmere Buses website.

North Wealden Community Transport (Wealdlink) services 224, 225, 226

  • £5 East Sussex day ticket. Age related, under 19 and 19 to 29, tickets are also available on bus.
  • East Sussex family and group travel ticket offer allowing up to 4 young people to travel free with an adult fare paying passenger or concessionary pass traveller. Young people must show proof of their age.
  • Unaccompanied young people aged under 19 (proof of age may be requested - please use the East Sussex Age Verification app) can make a one-way journey for £1.

Please visit this page regularly for more updates. These initiatives are part of the new East Sussex Bus Service Improvement Plan.

East Sussex Age Verification app is now available to download and use to access the age related fares discounts.

App Store Link:                  https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/east-sussex-age-verification/id6445960715
Play Store Link:                  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.esccreact

Age Verification App Download