Bus passengers save as Smart Fares discount scheme to continue into 2026

A popular bus fare discount scheme that has cut some ticket prices by nearly half will continue until the end of next March.

The Smart Fares scheme was launched in July 2023 after the city council teamed up with the five local bus operators to offer heavily discounted bus tickets for adults and young people.

The scheme, which has helped to attract thousands more people to use the bus, will now continue until 31 March, 2026.

It means passengers can continue to make the most of low-cost bus travel on bus services operated by First, D&G, Stantons of Stoke, Scraggs and Arriva Midlands.

Since it was launched, nearly 2.5 million tickets have been sold and over 12.5 million bus trips made on the Smart Ticket bus network zone, which covers the city and immediate surrounding areas in North Staffordshire.

The Smart Fares Scheme is part of the city council’s Bus Service Improvement Plan which is funded by £31.6 million from the Department for Transport (DfT).

To make the most of available government funding and keep prices low for as long as possible, some ticket prices will change from 1 November.

However, the highly popular adult daily ticket, which represents a discount of around 28 per cent, will remain the same price (£4.80).

 The new prices are:

• Adult day ticket - £4.80 (no change)
• Adult week ticket - £14 (up from £12)
• Adult month ticket - £49 (up from £42)
• Adult year ticket - £560 (up from £504)
• Young person’s day ticket - £3.70 (up from £3.50)
• Young person’s week ticket – £10 (up from £9)
• Young person’s month ticket - £37 (up from £31.50)
• Young person’s year ticket - £420 (up from £378)

Adult and young person three-month tickets have been removed from the scheme due to lack of uptake of those tickets.

Councillor Finlay Gordon-McCusker, cabinet member for transport, infrastructure and regeneration at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “When we launched the Smart Fares scheme, our mission was simple: to make public transport something people could truly depend on - affordable, accessible, and fair.

“Since then, millions of journeys have been made across our city, and that tells a story of progress. Extending the scheme means keeping that momentum going, keeping travel affordable, and keeping our communities connected.

"Alongside new and improved routes, we’re transforming the bus network into something that works for everyone, because transportation is about freedom, opportunity, and the dignity of being able to get where you need to go.

"We’ll continue to work closely with local operators and with government to make sure every investment serves the people of Stoke-on-Trent, because when we move together, we move forward together.”