Our school coach service

Our students are encouraged to create lasting positive change throughout their lives, for the benefit of themselves, our society and the environment. Having experience of a diverse community is a key factor for this, so we are very proud of our large geographical intake.

Habs campus benefits from being both close to London (Elstree and Borehamwood station) and also in a stunning rural part of Hertfordshire. There are very limited public transport links so most of our students use our extensive private coach service.

Our coach network is for students in Year 3 and up* and is one of the largest in the county with over 70% of students taking one of our 34 different coaches. We span most of Hertfordshire and North London. Our coaches cover Redbourn, Harpenden, Welwyn Garden City in the north to St John’s Wood, Belsize Park and Camden in the South. Berkhamsted, Rickmansworth, Ruislip in the West to Cuffley, Winchmore Hill and Southgate in the east.

*NEW From September 2025 we are pleased to announce our coach network will be available for all students from Reception to Year 13.

From September 2025 all Reception to Year 2 pupils will be able to use our coach routes in the morning. They will have a dedicated student buddy on the coach with them. In the afternoon, Reception to Year 2 pupils will be able to travel on a selection of our 4.15pm coach routes with chaperones.

How our coach service works

Operated jointly by Habs Boys and Habs Girls, our coach service is available to all students from Year 3 to Year 13 (from September 2025 it will be available for all students in Reception to Year 13).

The service is for students and staff only, members of the public cannot use these coaches. All drivers are safeguarding trained and have been subject to an enhanced DBS check.

Habs parents can sign up to the Habs transport app where you can purchase yearly tickets or ad-hoc coach tickets.

The service covers 34 morning routes, 34 afternoon routes and 13 late service routes.
Our afternoon coaches leave school at 4.15pm and our coach service departs at 5.30pm (ideal for students attending co-curricular activities). Please note that our late coach services differ to our morning and afternoon routes, so please do check the timetable and coach stops carefully. You can use the coach stop map to check the times, prices and services for your chosen stop by clicking on the stop marker.

Our coach routes

Coach passes and tickets

Coach tickets are available as follows:

- Pre-booked regular travel – Pre-booked regular tickets are for a regular travel pattern. These tickets automatically renew at the end of each term, securing your child’s seat on the coach for the next term.
- Discount availability – If you pre-book five or more journeys a week on a regular ticket, you can claim a discount. Further savings are available if you pre-book 10 journeys per week on a regular ticket. This is your most cost-effective option when making a booking.

Please submit requests for regular travel using the online form.

- Ad hoc journeys – These can be bought from the School Office by phone or in person. They are available for a single one-way journey or a short period of regular travel.

All tickets are printed or emailed to the student, with tickets sold subject to availability, if your chosen stop is fully booked, we can discuss an alternative.

All tickets permit the student to travel to their booked stop only. Any passenger travelling to a stop other than the one on their ticket will receive a £15 fare for that journey.

Ad hoc tickets

If students do not normally use the coach service, they need to buy an ad-hoc ticket.
If a student does have a coach pass but needs to travel to or from elsewhere, they will need an ad-hoc ticket for stop they wish to travel to and from.
If the coach will not be travelling to the stop detailed on a student’s coach pass at the time they wish to travel, they can use the next nearest stop available at that time without needing an ad-hoc ticket.

Safety and conduct

All students must carry a working mobile phone which is charged and in credit. Seat belts must be worn at all times, and other than water, no food or drink can be consumed on board.

For all Junior and Prep School students, parents are responsible for their child until they board the coach on the journey to school and after they get off on the journey home. Your child must never get off the coach until they have have seen the person collecting them at their stop.

If your child misses their stop or realises they are on the wrong coach, they must stay on board. The driver will contact the School Office and make arrangements to take your child to a safe place, where they can wait to be picked up.

There is a code of conduct for the coach service, which all parents, guardians and students must follow when using the service. Students, parents or guardians who do not use the service responsibility may have their access withdrawn either permanently, or for a short period of time.
READ OUR CODE OF CONDUCT

Keeping you informed

The coach service has its own X (Twitter) feed, @HabsTransport, keeping you up to date with any news, changes or delays.

Our coach system also sends email alerts to students, parents and guardians with any updates about the coach service.

Ms Emma Summers is our School Transport Manager. She and her team in the Transport Office are happy to answer any questions you may have about the coach service.

Email the team at: transport@habselstree.org.uk
Or call: 020 8266 1920

Lost property on Habs coaches

Any item found on the coach will be placed in the lost property racks in the coach park.

If your child’s property is not on the racks, please call the Coach Operator responsible for your route. The office telephone numbers are:

F routes are Southgate & Finchley, 020 8368 0040
M Routes are South Mimms Travel, 01707 322555
H Routes are Hearns Coaches, 020 8954 5444

Please remember that coaches will not make any special trips to return lost property and visits to collect lost property from coach operator offices may be restricted for safety reasons.

High-value items, such as musical instruments or digital devices, will be taken to the coach park office. If your child has left something valuable on the coach, please contact an on-duty member of staff in the coach park.

Emergency numbers

In case of an emergency, please call the Transport Office on 020 8266 1705.

You may also call the coach operators on the numbers below. Please remember, these numbers should not be used for general service enquiries. Please direct any general enquiries, such as stop time information, to our Transport Office.