So far, nearly 2.5 million tickets have been sold and more than 12.5 million bus trips made on the Smart Ticket bus network, which covers the city and immediate surrounding areas in North Staffordshire. The scheme, which was launched in July 2023, has been hailed a huge success both locally and nationally.
The scheme, which offers discounted bus fares and simple multi-operator ticketing, is now set to continue until March 2026.
Discounted bus fares
New bus fares will be as follows from Saturday, 1 November 2025:
Adult Fares
| Ticket type | Ticket price |
| Single | Up to £3.00 |
| Day | £4.80 |
| Week | £14 |
| Month | £49 |
| Three-month | Removed |
| Annual | £560 |
Smart tickets
Through the Affordable Fares scheme, passengers 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 includes 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 | Ticket prices |
| Single | Up to £3.00 |
| Day | £3.70 |
| Week | £10 |
| Month | £37 |
| 3 Month | Removed |
| Annual | £420 |
When will the scheme run until?
The Affordable Fares scheme was launched on 1 July 2023 and will run until 31 March 2026. This initiative is part of £31.6 million of bus service improvements being invested into the Stoke-on-Trent network over the next two years.
The funding has been provided by the Department for 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: