New Term - Tap to Travel to School
Translink and the Education Authority (EA) have announced they will be issuing new bus and rail smartcards for eligible school pupils and further education students for their home to school or college journeys, with important changes taking effect from September 2024.
In advance of the new school term, new smartcards will be issued and pupils and FE students will be required to electronically validate their new smartcards on each journey. This is done by tapping the card on a Translink ticket machine, reader, or gate.
This development aims to enhance the overall safety and effectiveness of bus and rail travel for schoolchildren and FE students across Northern Ireland. Not only does this streamline the boarding process, but it also helps young people with their independence while highlighting the key environmental and health benefits of using public transport, including reduced carbon emissions, reduced road congestion, cleaner air and active travel.
Each smartcard will contain the pupil's name, boarding and alighting location, and the name of their school. There are no changes to the duty of care requirements, and any pupil who forgets or loses their smartcard, will still be allowed to travel.
Timetable Update
September 2024 timetables for dedicated school services and scheduled bus and rail services are now available. If you are not sure what services operate to your school use our school services route finder
Need Some Help?
Enter your school name or nearby stop to get a list of services and their routes to/from that school.
If you know the school service number, you can simply download a timetable
Got a question about our school services and what we are doing to prepare for the new school year?
More on Free Education Authority Bus Passes
yLink is a smartcard for all 16-23 years olds using Translink services within Northern Ireland. You get 50% off Translink bus and rail travel* in Northern Ireland and up to 50% off Enterprise for up to 8 years – and the card is FREE!
The quicker and easier way to travel with Translink. Buy, receive & use your tickets via your mobile. You can buy your Weekly, Monthly, 3 Day Flexi and new 1 Day Peak and 1 Day Off-Peak tickets using your mobile phone.
For pupils who would normally avail of the ferry service to connect with their bus in Strangford will avail of the replacement passenger only ferry that will be in service. The passenger sailings will leave from 7.45am to 8:15am. Buses will be waiting to meet pupils from theses sailings in Strangford and will depart at 8.30am. Due to limited capacity on each passenger ferry crossing, all pupils will not be able to avail of the same crossing. Pupils are therefore advised to ensure that they leave enough time to complete their journey.
For the return journey home, buses will bring pupils to the ferry terminal in Strangford as usual to avail of the passenger crossing to Portaferry. Pupils who then connect to an EA bus service in Portaferry for onward travel, will board the EA bus will be waiting outside Blaney’s Shop.
Travel Cards
You can buy your day, weekly or monthly travel card for the new school term and your first top-up online now.
Go Eco
Bus and Rail Pupils - Pass Validity Conditions
This ticket is valid for one journey in each direction until 6.30pm between the validity dates shown on the front, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and School Holidays. The forward journey must be made before noon.
Bus and Rail Further Education College Students - Pass Validity Conditions
This ticket is valid for one journey in each direction until 21.30pm between the validity dates shown on the front, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and School Holidays. The forward journey must be made before noon.