Public transport ticket agreements
Public transport ticket agreements enable Essex County Council to purchase bus and train tickets for Education and Children Social Care passengers.
Essex County Council has an agreement with each transport provider who delivers commercial bus, Local Bus or train services within Essex
Each agreement includes one or more ‘ticket code’ indicating the price per passenger per day, and zone or service the ticket is valid for
Tickets
Each transport provider issues their own tickets and distributes them to passengers
Smartcards, tickets via an app, or paper tickets may be issued. Some transport providers also issue accompanying photocards
Transport providers issue tickets that are valid for a single term at a time; autumn term, spring term and summer term
Tickets may be distributed by post, electronically, given out on the bus or at school
Families may be charged a reasonable replacement fee for lost tickets
Ticket orders
Essex County Council shares ticket orders with transport providers throughout the year. They include the ticket code, passenger details and period of eligibility
Tickets must be issued promptly to passengers within 5 working days, or by the start of term
Invoicing and refunds
Transport providers invoice on a termly basis for tickets provided during the previous term, minus any refunds for returned or no longer required tickets
Full or partial refunds may be due where a passenger has returned or no longer requires their ticket
Where tickets are ordered for travel on some Local Bus services, the ticket revenue is offset against the Local Bus contract invoices