Multi-million pound funding boost for bus services in Stoke-on-Trent

Nearly £10 million is set to be invested in local public transport in Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council has been awarded £9,868,720 of additional government funding for bus network improvements in the city.

The cash from the Department for Transport (DfT) is in addition to the £31 million the council was awarded for its Bus Service Improvement Plan, which it has been delivering in partnership with local bus operators since 2022.

The city council is now awaiting further guidance from the DfT around how the money can be used but the authority hopes to build on the success of its Bus Service Improvement Plan.

The plan includes the flagship Affordable Fares scheme, which offers discounted bus tickets. It has also seen the introduction of new and revised routes across the city which have been driven by demand from local residents. New technology is also being rolled out which prioritises buses and improves journey reliability.

At the same time, 200 bus stops are being upgraded to make it easier for less mobile passengers to get on and off and, in the near future, real-time passenger information displays and CCTV will be installed at 100 sites across the city, displaying up-to-date bus arrival times.

Councillor Finlay Gordon-McCusker, cabinet member for transport, infrastructure and regeneration, said: “We are committed to improving public transport and making it as easy as possible for residents to get around the city. Through our game-changing package of improvements, we are doing just that.

“We want to improve our local bus services and give residents a viable alternative to driving, to help improve air quality and reduce congestion. We have made substantial progress through our Bus Service Improvement Plan but we know that we still have a long way to go.

“Along with our city’s three Members of Parliament, I recently wrote to Louise Haigh MP, the Secretary of State for Transport, to ask her for the Government’s support to continue to delivering better bus services across our city. I am incredibly pleased to see this additional funding from the Government, which I hope will allow the wheels to keep turning on our ambitious plans to improve public transport here in Stoke-on-Trent.

 “While we wait for further guidance from the DfT around how this money can be used, we will be looking at all of our options and listening to local people to ensure we are making the most of this much-needed investment and keeping our communities connected.”