Bus travel discounts in and around Southend

Arriva bus travel for students

Arriva Student Saver tickets are valid for anyone in full time education and, are a cost effective and flexible alternative to local authority tickets. Benefits include;

  • Unlimited Travel - You’ll get unlimited access to travel on any Arriva bus, at any time, across all routes in your chosen area.
  • No Restrictions - The Saver tickets will cover your travel to and from University, School or College, evenings, weekends and throughout the holidays too at any time of the day.
  • Flexible Payments - Arriva’s Direct Debit scheme allows you to spread the cost of your ticket over affordable monthly payments. It’s an easy way to pay for travel and there’s no contract involved, making it an ideal way to get reduced bus travel for the whole Academic year, without paying upfront.
  • Plan your journey - Use the ‘Plan a journey’ tool on the Arriva website to find out which bus you require for your journey.

*Please note the tickets do not cover Arriva London/TFL routes

To apply, to arrange your Direct Debit please visit the Arriva website and select the county of your University. Once registered, you can select either to receive your monthly pass by post or sent to your mobile phone, so you won’t have to worry about paying every time you board the bus. This ticket will rollover every month for as long as the direct debit remains active.

For any queries regarding the scheme, please email talktous@arriva.co.uk

Octopus tickets

Octopus tickets for students and staff are valid for travel on most buses* run by Arriva, First, NIBS, Regal Busways and Stephensons. Weekly, four-weekly and yearly tickets can be used every day.

*Octopus tickets are valid on services run under contract to Essex County Council, but are not valid on service 500 to 599, 800, 806 to 816 or the X30.

+Off-peak day tickets are not valid before 9am on weekdays (Mondays to Fridays).

Octopus tickets are valid for travel within the Southend, Rochford and Castle Point districts. This area is bounded by the River Crouch in the north, the coast to the east and south and Sadlers Farm Roundabout and the A1245 between Rettendon turnpike and Carpenter's Arms in the west.

Buying Octopus tickets

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