East Sussex discount rail card for young people to be scrapped
The Sussex Student Card offers 34 per cent off train travel in the county and is run in partnership with Southern and authorities in West Sussex and Brighton & Hove.
Last year the Government launched a new national rail scheme for 16-17-year-olds giving them a 50 per cent saving on a standard adult fare.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdNew applications for the Sussex Student Card fell by 94 per cent between July and December 2019 and analysis suggests that the vast majority of students are actually better off with the new national 16-17 Railcard.
After consultation East Sussex County Council has decided to stop the subsidy for the Sussex Student Card.
The decision was made by Bob Standley, lead member for education and inclusion at a meeting last month.
Stuart Gallimore, director of children’s services, said in the main students would be better off with the national card, especially on a two-year course.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdAlthough there are some differences on a three-year course he described how there were other rail concessions available to young people.
Although it was not an ideal time to run a consultation during lockdown, the county council had received more responses to its post-16 transport policy statement this year than the previous three years combined.
Some respondents were unclear about the purpose of the Sussex Student Card as they mentioned university or being mature students.
According to officers: “This confusion perhaps reinforces the authority’s view that the abundance of schemes already available is unhelpful and that by removing the Sussex Student Card will make travel choices easier for young people.”
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThe main colleges also share a hardship fund for students struggling financially.
A message from the Editor, Gary Shipton:
In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news, I am asking you to please purchase a copy of our newspapers.
With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspapers.
Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.
Stay safe, and best wishes.