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 introduced from 1st July, 2023 as follows:
Adult Fares
| Ticket Types | Discounted Fares from 1st July, 2023 | % Price Reduction compared to original fares |
| Adult Fares | ||
| Single* | £2.00 | NEW |
| Day | £3.50 | 40% reduction |
| Weekly | £12.00 | 40% reduction |
| Monthly | £42.00 | 40% reduction |
| 3-Month | £115.00 | 40% reduction |
| Annual | £400.00 | 45% reduction |
* Single use ticket price is for any single journey on any bus operator’s service.
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 freee 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 1st July, 2023 ** | % Price Reduction compared to original fares |
| Single | £1.50 | |
| Day | £2.00 | 50% reduction |
| Weekly | £7.00 | 50% reduction |
| Monthly | £24.00 | 55% reduction |
| 3-Month | £60.00 | 56% reduction |
| Annual | £200.00 | 64% reduction |
** Age at time of purchase
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:
Smart Tickets - Affordable Bus Fares
The smart multi-operator bus pass allows you to travel on buses provided by different operators across North Staffordshire with just one ticket.
You can travel with any of the bus operators listed below, on any bus route, at any time of day across Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme and North Staffordshire within the boundaries of the scheme, as illustrated below:
Smart tickets cannot be used to travel to or from areas outside of the boundary, but you can use it to travel up to the boundary and pay the additional fare to your final destination.
Under our Affordable Fares scheme, Smart tickets are valid on the following bus operators' services:
First
D&G Bus
Stantons of Stoke
Blue Buses (Scraggs)
Arriva Midlands
Daily, weekly, monthly, three-month and annual tickets are available.
The Young Person’s fare has now been extended to include people aged up to 18 (it was capped at 16 year olds previously) Student fares will no longer be applicable.
Please note: You maybe required to provide proof of age when buying your ticket or travelling.
If you have a smart phone, the easiest way to buy a pass is by downloading the First Bus app or D&G bus app My Trip.
Tickets can be downloaded to your phone anytime of the day. Simply scan your mobile ticket when you hop on board, and you are ready to go.
Don’t have a mobile phone?
You can buy one-month and three-month Smart passes before you travel from the First Travel Shop at Hanley Bus Station or daily and weekly tickets are available on the bus from the driver (one- month, three-month and annual passes cannot be bought on the bus). If you are buying a pass from the First Travel Shop, you will need to bring a passport sized photograph with you when you buy your first pass. If you are renewing a pass, you will need the photocard from the pass you are updating.
Further details of the bus service improvements planned as part of the new Enhanced Partnership for Buses between the city council and bus operators, can be viewed here: https://www.stoke.gov.uk/enhancedpartnership