Residents are being given a better deal with the launch of the Discovery Ticket, which allows users to explore and discover everything the South East region has to offer by bus.
Now passengers can travel from Thanet to Chichester, or Dartford to Brighton – anywhere in West Sussex, East Sussex, Surrey, Brighton & Hove, East Hampshire and Kent & Medway – with a Family Day Ticket for £16.00, an Adult Day Ticket (£8.50) or an individual Child Day Ticket at £7.
The Discovery Ticket prices are standardised across the region and will supersede the previous Explorer Ticket, which was only available on Stagecoach and Arriva in Kent.
Stagecoach and Arriva will continue to sell the Explorer Ticket for their own networks in addition to the Discovery Ticket.
Cllr Matthew Balfour
Matthew Balfour, Kent County Council Cabinet member for Environment and Transport, said: “With a Discovery Ticket, users are free to explore and discover the fantastic attractions the region has to offer by bus.
“With unlimited travel across Kent and beyond in the South of England by bus, the Discovery Ticket could be all passengers need to make the most of the amazing spaces and places that Kent has to offer.”
Matthew Arnold, Operations and Commercial Director at Go Coach, said: “This is great news for the travelling public who will now be able to travel freely across the South East with just one great value ticket.”
Richard Lewis, Arriva Marketing Manager, said: “We are pleased to support the extension of the Discovery Ticket to cover bus services in Kent and Medway.
“Giving people a simple-to-understand ticket that gives good value on so many buses across the region and into Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire can only help to encourage people to use the bus for an enjoyable day out.”
Norman Kemp, owner of Nu-Venture Coaches, said: “Nu-Venture welcomes the introduction of an unlimited travel ticket that it can sell on its buses, which serve numerous villages and smaller communities in Mid-Kent and Medway.
“Journeys such as Yalding to Chatham, or Cuxton to Tunbridge Wells, can now be made with just one ticket purchase.”
Nick Hill, Head of Commercial Development, Brighton & Hove and Metrobus, said: “We have been a member of the Discovery scheme since it was launched and we are delighted that it is now live in Kent and Medway.
“We have many passengers who not only wish to travel on other company’s buses as well as ours but also travel across county boundaries. This will be a great help to them.”