New Travel Card Opens Doors to the Downs

A new all-inclusive travel card will give visitors a reason to leave their cars at home and explore the eastern South Downs and beyond using a network of buses and trains.

The Downlander integrated bus and rail ticket, available from the end of July, allows users to travel across the Southern Railway network and onwards on specific services provided by Brighton and Hove Buses, Eastbourne Buses, Cuckmere Community Bus and also Rider bus services – the latter funded by East Sussex County Council.

All aboard for the new Downlander service

South Downs Joint Committee’s Sustainable Transport and Tourism Project Officer, Sian Townsend (left), also working on behalf of Sussex Community Rail Partnership, instigated discussions into the feasibility of the integrated bus and rail ticket early in 2006 with representatives of all the transport services.

There will be two types of ticket – the South Coast Downlander  (£10) and the All Network Downlander for £12.50 (children aged 5-15 travel for £2.50 on either ticket)

The South Coast Downlander will enable users to enjoy unlimited bus travel within the Downs area and covers Southern stations including Brighton, Southampton, Portsmouth, Bognor Regis, Haywards Heath, Chichester, Eastbourne, Hastings, Rye and Ashford (valid after 9.30am, terms and conditions apply).

The All Network Downlander allows travel across the whole Southern network and South Downs area, incorporating all other Southern stations – including Crawley, Horsham, Redhill, East Croydon and London Victoria – as well as unlimited bus travel (valid after 10am, terms and conditions apply)

The new tickets will allow purchasers to travel around the scenic area of the Eastern Downs, which includes Alfriston and the Cuckmere Valley and the magnificent stretch of coastline between Brighton, Seaford and Eastbourne, including Beachy Head and the famous Seven Sisters.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.southernrailway.com/downlander

and printed at home (7 days advance booking required).

Sian Townsend, Sustainable Transport and Tourism Officer, says: “The Downlander ticket will give visitors the chance to explore this spectacular Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty by train and bus and help to reduce traffic in the countryside. It will offer an affordable and easy way to explore the eastern South Downs and all its attractions.”

Details of the Downlander appear in 60,000 copies of the 2006 Sussex Heritage Coast Travel and Leisure Guide which includes information on walks, cycles routes, places to eat and stay and bus and rail timetables for the eastern South Downs.

A new leaflet ‘Heritage Coast Bus Walks’ which features circular trails from Seven Sisters, Alfriston and Beachy Head, also includes the ticket details. 

Special deals such as “2 for 1”, “Kids Go Free” and 10% discounts are currently being obtained from local attractions, restaurants, tea rooms and businesses in the Cuckmere Valley to add to the ticket’s value.