From Saturday 1 July 2023, bus travel in Stoke-on-Trent will become considerably cheaper with simple multi operator ticketing, through the introduction of the Affordable Fares scheme.
Discounted bus fares
New bus fares will be as follows from 1 July:
Adult Fares
| Ticket Types | Discounted Fares from 1 July 2023 | % Price Reduction compared to orignal fares |
| Adult Single | £2.00 | NEW |
| Adult Day | £3.50 | 40% reduction |
| Adult Week | £12.00 | 40% reduction |
| Adult Month | £42.00 | 40% reduction |
| Adult 3 Month |
£115.00 |
40% reduction |
| Adult Annual | £400.00 | 45% reduction |
Smart tickets
As well as big discounts on fare prices, bus users can use the same ‘Smart’ ticket across all bus operator services in the city and Newcastle-under-Lyme. Tickets can be purchased in the following ways:
- on entry to the bus
- electronically via the First or D&G bus service apps or
- Hanley Bus Station travel shop.
Young Person's fare age raised to 18
The age eligibility for young person's fares has been raised to include 18 years old and younger.
Under 5’s can travel free of charge at all times and and concessionary travel pass holders will continue to travel free of charge (after 9.30am on week days and all day at weekends/public holidays)
Young Person's Fares (18 year old or younger)
| Ticket Types | Discounted Fares from 1 July 2023 | % Price Reduction compared to orignal fares |
| Single | £1.50 | |
| Day | £2.00 | 50% reduction |
| Week | £7.00 | 50% reduction |
| Month | £24.00 | 55% reduction |
| 3 Month |
£60.00 |
56% reduction |
| Annual | £200.00 | 64% reduction |
When will the scheme run until?
The Affordable Fares scheme will be in place for a minimum of 12 months, initially until Friday 30 June 2024. This is the first initiative from £31.6 million of bus service improvements to be investment in the Stoke-on-Trent network over the next two years.
The funding has been provided by the Department of Transport's Bus Service Improvement Plan allocation.
Further details of the bus service improvements, planned as part of a new Enhanced Partnership for Buses between the city council and bus operators, can be viewed below: