Public Transport

Air Services

Lydd Air, based at Lydd Airport, provide passenger flights from Lydd to Le Touquet. For information please contact:

Lydd Air 01797 320000

Bus Concessionary Travel Scheme

With effect from 1 April 2008, the Council participates in the England-wide bus concessionary travel scheme (or alternatively offers rail vouchers) for senior citizens aged 60+ and for those with certain disabilities. This scheme entitles concessionary pass holders to travel free on any service bus in England (except for certain school and special journeys), from 0930 on Mondays to Fridays and at any time on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays. For information on this scheme please contact:

Customer Services Team 01303 858660

Bus Services

The principal provider of bus services in Shepway District is Stagecoach East Kent, which operates frequent and reliable services on all major bus routes between Folkestone and Dover, Canterbury, Hythe, Dymchurch, New Romney, Lydd, Camber (for Hastings), and Ashford. There are also numerous local bus routes which serve most parts of the urban area and several rural locations.

Shepway District Council works in close partnership with Stagecoach East Kent by providing bus stop clearways which prohibit parking at bus stops by all vehicles except buses, so as to enable all passengers to board and alight at the bus stop safely.   

For all timetable information for Stagecoach East Kent please call:

Stagecoach East Kent    08456 00 22 99

For information about all other bus operators, including bus services outside East Kent, please call:

Traveline    0871 200 22 33

Bus Shelters and Bus Stops

To report any damage to bus shelters or bus stops, or to enquire about the location of either, please contact:

Customer Services Team 01303 858660 

Coach Services

National Express operate express coach route 021 from Folkestone and Hythe to Ashford, Maidstone and London Victoria Coach Station. For information please contact:

National Express 08705 808080

PlusBus

The major bus and train operators in Kent have come together to promote a scheme which enables travellers to buy one ticket to cover their bus and rail journey. PLUSBUS gives you unlimited bus travel around town, at the start, the finish, or both ends of your train journey. With PLUSBUS you can make as many journeys as you like on all participating bus operators' services. You can add PLUSBUS to most train tickets (single, day return, period return and season tickets) when buying your train ticket at the station - for bus travel at the start of your journey from Folkestone, you will need to buy your ticket in advance.

PLUSBUS not only covers Folkestone but is also available in more than 225 towns and cities across the whole country (including every rail-served town with a population of more than 90,000). For more information about the exact zone, which operators participate and how much it costs, please visit www.plusbus.info and enter /"Folkestone/" in the search box.

Rail Services

Eurostar operate international services from Ashford to Paris, Lille, Marne-la-Vallee, Bourg-St-Maurice (Winter) and Avignon (Summer). For information please contact:

Eurostar Passenger Services 08705 186186

Eurotunnel operate cross-channel services for cars and coaches from Folkestone to Calais (no foot passengers). For information please contact:

Eurotunnel Call Centre 08705 353535

Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway provide passenger services between Hythe, Dymchurch, St Mary’s Bay, New Romney, Romney Sands and Dungeness. There is also a school train for pupils attending The Marsh Academy in New Romney which operates on school days between Burmarsh Road, Dymchurch, St Mary's Bay and New Romney. For more information please contact:

Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway 01797 362353

Southeastern Railway operate passenger services from Folkestone Central, Folkestone West, Sandling and Westenhanger to Ramsgate, Deal, Dover, Ashford, Tonbridge and London Charing Cross/Cannon Street.

High Speed Domestic Rail Services will start operation on 14 December 2009 between Dover Priory, Folkestone Central, Folkestone West, Ashford, Ebbsfleet, Stratford and London St Pancras. These high speed rail services will take about one hour from Folkestone and will operate every hour all day, with a half-hourly service during the peak periods.

For more information about this new rail service please visit: www.railforfolkestone.com 

For more information about existing rail services please contact:

Southeastern Railway Customer Services 08450 002222 or www.southeasternrailway.co.uk

Southern Railway operate passenger services from Ashford to Ham Street, Appledore (situated on the western boundary of Shepway District and serving Romney Marsh, New Romney and Lydd), Rye, Hastings, Eastbourne, Lewes and Brighton. For further information please contact:

Southern Customer Services 08451 272920

For all other rail enquiries please contact:

National Rail Enquiries 08457 484950