Millions more bus journeys have been taken in Stoke-on-Trent following the launch of an affordable fares scheme.

But the initiative, which is due to end in March, has been described as a 'victim of its own success', burning through its budget faster than expected to the high levels of demand.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council launched the scheme in 2023, after being allocated £31 million of government funding for its bus service improvement plan (BSIP). Part of this funding has been used to subsidise cheaper fares, with the aim of getting people back on the buses following the pandemic.

Members of the housing, regeneration and operations scrutiny committee were told about the success of the scheme as part of a wider update on the BSIP. Ian Tamburello, head of transport policy and planning, told the committee that between 2.5 and three million extra bus journeys had been taken because of the scheme.

The initiative is due to end in March this year (Nub News).

He said: "It is a limited budget we have available, so we weren't able to say that travelling is free. But what we've actually achieved is really significant in getting people to use the buses, especially if we can make that more habitual. Hopefully we'll be carrying that on in 2025 and 2026.

"The affordable fares scheme has been a financial challenge – a good financial challenge for the authority because it's been so popular. But we've had to consider how we take the scheme forward and make the money last as long as possible."

The affordable fares scheme was originally allocated £7.4 million of BSIP funding, but it has already cost £8.1 million. Additional funding has been assigned, and in October, the council increased the discounted fares, with the cost of an adult day ticket rising from £3.50 to £4.80.

Finlay Gordon-McCusker, cabinet member for transport, said: "We've almost been a victim of our own success. The affordable fares scheme was far more successful than any projection, and more successful than any other scheme across the country."

In addition to the affordable fares scheme, the council has also used the BSIP money to fund new and improved bus services, with the third tranche of service 'enhancements' due to start soon. The committee was told that service enhancements had been targeted at areas with high unmet demand, where residents are struggling to get to work or their GP.

Due to its success, the budget has dwindled much faster than expected (LDRS).

Mr Tamburello said: "Again, it's a limited budget we've got available, so the message to the public is that if you don't take advantage of this route while it's there, then there will come a point where it will be the operator's decision whether they continue to operate it. And let's face facts, that will be a commercial decision."

Committee member Laura Carter welcomed the improved services, including the extension of the 19 service which was helping pensioners in Sneyd Green get to Cobridge health centre. But Cllr Carter called on the council to improve the way it communicated these changes to residents.

She said: "Communication with those residents, who are quite elderly, is face-to-face. There's one lady where I've knocked on her door to let her know that changes have been made and printed out timetables for her. So how are we accessing the residents who don't really do technology?"

Mr Tamburello acknowledged that this is an area where the council could make improvements.

Capital schemes funded through the BSIP allocation have included a project to raise 200 bus stops to make them more accessible for disabled people and parents with pushchairs. Real time passenger information displays are due to be installed at some of the city's busiest bus stops later this year.

The city council was recently allocated a further £3.87 million of capital and £5.9 million of revenue funding to deliver further improvements to Stoke-on-Trent's bus network. While the authority is still awaiting guidance on how this money can be spent, it is looking at new fare initiatives targeting groups such as care leavers.

Cllr Gordon-McCusker said: "I'm really chuffed with the progress of the service improvement plan. I think it's been a phenomenal scheme, a game changer for transport within the city. The key to what we've delivered has been connecting people, whether that means connecting people to jobs, healthcare, education or retail opportunities.

"Stoke-on-Trent's bus network has under-performed for years. The bus network was reduced by a significant percentage, double the national average. So we've got a long way to build back. But I'm really pleased with the first phase of the bus service improvement plan. We've been able to make some real tangible improvements to the passenger experience and bus network."

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