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Getting to our hospitals by public transport

Image of a StageCoach bus

For specific information about getting to our hospitals by public transport, including
bus routes, please visit the relevant Hospital page from the links below:

Bus tickets

Here you will find information on some of the bus tickets available to you when travelling to and from east Kent hospitals.

Explorer - unlimited one day travel across Kent

Stagecoach's 'Explorer' bus ticket is a great way to save money on bus fares. It allows one day’s unlimited travel across Kent, Surrey and Hampshire and is valid on all bus company’s routes. You can buy the Explorer ticket from the driver on the day. The Family Explorer allows up to two adults and two children to travel.

Day Rider/Mega Rider - unlimited travel within area zones

If you are going to William Harvey Hospital (WHH), Stagecoach offer a 'Day Rider' ticket that allows unlimited travel on Stagecoach services within the Ashford ticket zone. The '7 day Mega Rider' ticket allows seven days of unlimited travel on Stagecoach services in the Ashford ticket zone. 
  
If you are going to Kent and Canterbury Hospital (K&C), Stagecoach offer a 'Day Rider' ticket that allows unlimited travel on Stagecoach services within the Canterbury ticket zone. The '7 day Mega Rider' ticket allows seven days of unlimited travel on Stagecoach services in the Canterbury ticket zone. 

If you are going to Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother (QEQM) Hospital, Stagecoach offer a 'Day Rider' ticket that allows unlimited travel on Stagecoach services within the Thanet ticket zone. The '7 day Mega Rider' ticket allows seven days of unlimited travel on Stagecoach services in the Thanet ticket zone.


Kent Freedom Pass

Young people in year 7-11 can get unlimited travel around the county with a Kent Freedom Pass, making travel easier and more affordable.

After a single payment each academic year, bus travel is free any day of the week on most bus routes.

Full details on how to apply are available at the Kent County Council website
    


Free bus travel

If you are of pensionable age, you already qualify for free local bus travel anywhere in England.  What's more, you only need to provide a photograph as the pass itself is also free. So, whether you are going to your GP, or attending a hospital appointment, any journey you make which starts between 09:30 and 23:00 Monday to Friday, and any time on weekends and bank holidays, will cost you nothing.

Also, irrespective of your age, if you are within one of the following categories of disability you will also qualify for a free travel pass:

  • blind or partially sighted

  • profoundly or severely deaf

  • without speech

  • have a disability, or have suffered an injury, which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on the ability to walk

  • do not have arms or have long-term loss of the use of both arms

  • have a learning disability, that is, a state of arrested or incomplete development of mind, which includes significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning

  • would, if you applied for the grant of a licence to drive a motor vehicle under Part III of the Road Traffic Act 1988, have your application refused pursuant to section 92 of that Act (physical fitness) otherwise than on the ground of persistent misuse of drugs or alcohol.

Depending on where you live, you may also be able to get a pass to allow a companion to travel with you free of charge, although there is normally a fee for this type of pass.

All of these concessionary passes are issued by your local council and further information on how to apply can be found on the Kent County Council website.

Disabled access

Buses

Many buses are already low floor, wheelchair accessible vehicles but there are still some older, step-floor vehicles in service.  Routes with fully accessible vehicles include:

  • Thanet Loop operated by Stagecoach.

  • BZEE Buses 

For more information on accessibility please contact the bus operators. 

For a list of Kent bus routes that are operated using accessible vehicles, please visit the transport section of the Kent County Council website. Accessible routes are marked with a wheelchair symbol.

Trains

For specific station accessibility information please visit the Southeastern Railway website and search for your chosen station.

Taxis

There are many taxis around east Kent with wheelchair access. Contact individual firms for more information.