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 and Arriva bus services

Bus Pass Tickets – Information and Prices

Please note that First Bus will be increasing the cost of their weekly and monthly tickets with effect from 20^th January 2019 ( Termly and Annual fares will remain unchanged)– please see following table for the new price structure:

• 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
• Arriva – 4 weekly Colchester ticket £33.70
• Arriva Colchester carnet – 10 single journeys to be used over 2 months £12.50
• Hedingham – Students 19 and under can receive a Young Person deal directly through Hedingham www.hedingham.co.uk/savebig/

Discounted First and Arriva 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
• College Shop – (Colchester campus) Term time only
  Monday – Thursday 8.45am – 3.00pm. Shop CLOSED on Friday.
• Student Services – (Braintree campus) Term time only
  Monday – Thursday 8.30am – 4.00pm / Friday 8.30am – 4.00pm.
• Information Centre (Clacton Campus)
  Monday – Thursday 8.30am – 5pm / Friday 8.30am – 1.30pm.
• 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 card
• College Shop / Student Services / Information Centre – pay by cash, cheque, credit card or debit card
• Colchester Institute on-line store – pay by credit card or debit card

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

Trains – Greater Anglia passes

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

Please also read the General Transport Policy

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 £2.30 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.