Funding for 12 new bus routes is set to be allocated by Stoke-on-Trent City Council. Set to cost £1 million the funding will provide new routes, enhanced evening and weekend services, and increased frequency.

The total cost of the new routes is £1,482,000 and will come from the Bus Service Improvement Plan. Stoke-on-Trent City Council was funded by £31.6 million from the Department for Transport.

This comes as the first phase of the improvement plan was rolled out last month, which saw the restoration of some routes which were axed years ago. The scheme forms part of a wider Bus Service Improvement Plan for the city which has been developed following the city council's successful bid for £31.6 million from the Department for Transport

The total cost of the routes is £1,482,000 and will come from the Bus Service Improvement Plan (Nub News).

The routes are currently out for tender and will be awarded at the lowest price. It is expected that the enhanced service contract will start near the end of June and run until the end of March 2026.

The improved bus routes are:  

• Service 6A: Blythe Bridge – Longton City Centre
• Service 9A: Tunstall – Mill Hill – Bradeley – City Centre (Monday-Friday)
• Service 9A: Tunstall – Mill Hill – Bradeley – City Centre (Saturday and Good Friday)
• Service 19 and 19A: City Centre – Sneyd Green circular services (Monday-Friday off peak service)
• Service 19 and 19A: City Centre – Sneyd Green circular services (Monday-Friday peak hour service)
• Service 21: City Centre – Stoke – Trentham (Sunday and bank holidays)
• Service 43: City Centre – Milton – Baddeley Green (Sunday and bank holidays)
• Service 22: Blurton – Trentham – Newcastle (Sunday and bank holidays)
• Service 11: Longton – Stoke – Newcastle (Monday-Friday additional evening journeys)
• Service 22: Blurton – Trentham – Newcastle (Monday-Friday additional evening journeys)
• Service 11: Longton – Stoke – Newcastle (Saturday and Good Friday additional evening journeys)
• Service 22: Blurton – Trentham – Newcastle (Saturday and Good Friday additional evening journeys)

The council said they are 'committed to transforming our local transport network' (Google).

Speaking in April on phases one of bus improvement plan a spokesperson for the council said: "Improving the city's transport links is a key priority for Stoke-on-Trent City Council and is part of our wider vision of creating a healthier, wealthier, safer, greener, cleaner and fairer city for all. We understand that people want better, more reliable and more affordable transport and today's announcement delivers on a key element of the city council's commitment to improving the public transport system in Stoke-on-Trent.

"We are committed to transforming our local transport network and we want to ultimately increase the number of people using public transport to get to school, college, work and our town centres."

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READ MORE: General Election 2024: Electoral boundaries altered in Stoke-on-Trent

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