Getting Here – Travel | Bus Passes and Parking Information

Cycling

If you would like to use the secure cycle parking in front of the main reception at the Colchester Campus, contact the facilities Help Desk on 01206 712111 for further details.

Local organisations supporting cyclists include:

• Refurbished second hand bikes: www.re-cycle.org
• Help to repair your bike: www.colchesterbikekitchen.org.uk
• Cycle confidence sessions: https://saferessexroads.org/
• Cycle maps, info and support: www.cyclecolchester.org.uk

Buses

If you are under 19 years old at the start of your course, you may be eligible for help with travel costs through Essex County Council’s Post-16 Transport Assistance Scheme. Full details are available from Essex County Council

If you or your family are claiming benefits and you are on a Further Education course we may be able to support your travel costs through our discretionary support funds. Please contact Student Services for further information.

All students can benefit from discounts on First Bus services

First Bus Pass Tickets – Information and Prices

• First Bus zones and season ticket prices
• First bus Colchester inner zone carnet ticket 12 single journeys to be used over 1 month – £11.50
• Hedingham – Students 19 and under can receive a Young Person deal directly through Hedingham www.hedingham.co.uk/savebig/

Discounted First Bus passes can be purchased from:

Discounted First Bus passes can be purchased from:

• First Bus website – tickets are available via the First m-ticketing app https://www.firstgroup.com/buy-ticket
• Colchester Institute on-line store http://onlinestore.colchester.ac.uk/

Payment methods

Why should I switch to mTickets?

Mobile ticketing is the easiest and most convenient way to buy your ticket 24/7. Purchase your mTicket wherever and whenever you like, and activate just before boarding.

• First m-ticketing app – pay by credit card or debit cardYou will need your student email address to verify your purchase.  Student emails are activated once you enrol on your course and follow this format: Email: First name + first initial of surname + last four digits of student ID number + @colchester.ac.ukPassword: student ID numbere.g. Joe Bloggs, student ID 1234567 would have an email address of JoeB4567@colchester.ac.uk ; password 1234567.  Emails can be accessed via the weblink ‘mail.colchester.ac.uk’.  If you experience any problems with your student email account, please contact the IT Helpdesk by calling 01206 712222 or emailing iltservicedesk@colchester.ac.uk

For more information on fare changes, please contact First Bus Customer Services:

0345 646 0707
0700 – 1900 Monday – Friday
0900 – 1700 Weekends & Bank Holidays

Colchester Travel Centre

26 St Botolphs Street
Colchester
CO2 7EA

Tel: 07816 595921

Arriva

Arriva tickets available for Students and Staff – purchase through the online store: https://onlinestore.colchester.ac.uk/

Term Tickets      (photo required for bus pass)

 Autumn Term       – £148.00 per ticket

Spring Term         – £112.00 per ticket (price to be confirmed)

Summer Term      – £66.29 per ticket (price to be confirmed)

4 Weekly tickets  £40.00

Arriva Weekly Saver £12.40

Arriva Daily Saver £3.20

Collect a travel voucher from the college and exchange it on the bus for your ticket.

Arriva tickets available directly from Arriva

Annual Student Saver Tickets (for students only)

The Annual Saver Tickets can be paid for by direct debit, with the cost spread over 12 monthly instalments. The direct debit can be stopped and recommenced at any time and you are not tied into a contract.

arrivabus.co.uk/ss-hertsessex

The additional benefit of this ticket is that it can be used evenings, weekends and during term holidays and can be used on Arriva’s mobile M-Ticket app.

Can be used in the Colchester Zone – click on link for the Arriva map https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/globalassets/documents/south-east/network-maps/colchester-network-map.pdf

 Annual Cost – £455.00 payable at £37.92 per month by direct debit (£1.25 per day)

For further information about the Annual Student Saver ticket, please click here.

Trains – Greater Anglia passes

Scholars’ passes can be purchased directly from Greater Anglia at the following website: http://public.greenrailtravel.co.uk/.

Giving friends and classmates a lift to campus is a great way to reduce the costs of travelling as you can share petrol and parking costs.

There are specific parking spaces for car sharers at Colchester campus and you can apply for a car share permit at the Facilities Help Desk in Q House. If you can’t find someone to car share with you can use Essex Car Share to find or offer a lift.

Can I park on site?

There is student parking at both the Colchester and Braintree campuses, however this is limited and there is no guarantee of a space.

Students need to apply for a parking permit to allow them to park on campus. The permit is free and can be obtained from our facilities department at Colchester or the Information Centre at Braintree.  All students enrolled on a full-time course, part-time course or apprenticeship that requires parking from 8am and up to and including 5pm on a week day will require a parking permit.

If parking a car at Colchester, there is a daily pay and display parking charge of £2.50 for the 2019/20 Academic Year, and a ticket must be displayed alongside a valid parking permit. There is no charge for cars arriving on site after 5.15pm for evening classes. There are ticket machines on site but they take CASH ONLY and do not provide change. In addition there is moped and motorcycle parking at Colchester which is free on production of a valid student ID card.

There is no charge for any student parking at our Braintree Campus on production of a valid student ID.

Please note: all vehicles are left at the owner’s own risk. The College accepts no liability for loss or damage to vehicles or belongings left on premises.