Bus Passes:
All full time students at Alton Campus are eligible to purchase an online discounted student bus pass via the Stagecoach app or website. The student pass will allow you to travel for a cheaper cost compared to standard priced fares. Additional financial help (a partial refund) towards online bus passes may be available to full time students (not including Higher Education courses) who are aged 16-19 and live in certain postcode areas and are still enrolled on their course of study at the start of the second term. This is called a ‘travel subsidy’; if you are eligible for this, the College will contact you near the start of the second term.
Train Passes:
Alton Campus full time students who wish to travel by train may apply for a termly rail pass. The train pass will be at a discounted price (compared to standard priced fares). A further reduction to the cost will be made by the College towards all rail passes.
The Department of Transport has also launched a railcard for 16 to 17-year-olds, which gives students 50% off train fares. For more information on this scheme, please see further below.
STAGECOACH
Stagecoach bus passes will be available from the beginning of July 2023 (but cannot be used until 1st September 2023).
Download the Stagecoach app onto the student’s phone (for mobile bus passes). Physical tickets may still be available via the Stagecoach website.
The tickets for all students will be displayed. Alton Campus students will need to choose either an annual or termly student GOLD ticket. The GOLD StudentRider ticket is the only ticket valid for Alton Campus.
Gold Area Student Ticket: This ticket can be used in all of Hampshire, Surrey, West Sussex, Wiltshire, West Berkshire, Bracknell Forest, Brighton and Wokingham. This ticket will also allow you to travel to our other HSDC campuses at South Downs and Havant (in Hampshire).
Follow the instructions on the screen and order the pass. Please note that once the ticket is in the basket, Stagecoach may ask you for a discount code – you do NOT need to enter a discount code as the pass is already at a reduced cost for students. Once you have purchased the ticket, you will need to enter your student details before you can activate the pass. Please make sure you select the correct campus of study so the college can contact you about any ‘Travel Subsidy’ payment you will be due.
If you have any questions or you want to contact Stagecoach, please either use the Stagecoach app for frequently asked questions or contact the helpline on 0345 241 8000.
You can purchase a termly train pass via the College’s online payment system, WisePay and enter your login details – continuing students may use their existing login details.
If you do not know your login details, please contact Finance on 023 9279 7991, option 6. Once you have entered your details, click on Travel Payments and select the Train Pass options for Alton.
You can collect your pass from the Student Travel & Support Office near the Student Hub. If you are a first-year student, please remember to bring a passport-style photo with you as this is needed for your SWR train photocard. Continuing students can use their existing photocard.
The Department of Transport has launched a new Railcard which will benefit 16 and 17-year olds. This Railcard, which costs £30 to buy, offers 50% discount on rail travel.
HSDC understands that some rail passes will still be cheaper if purchased through the College but we would advise those students (aged between 16-17) and their parent/carers to investigate the 16-17 Railcard scheme before purchasing a College train pass.
For further information on the 16-17 Railcard, please go to the 16-17 Railcard website.
This is a scheme provided by Surrey County Council for students living in Surrey. More information is available on the Surrey Student Transport website.