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New Bus Services Proposed for Stoke-on-Trent: A Step Towards Improved Public Transport?
Stoke-on-Trent City Council is hoping to make strides in enhancing its public transportation system with a new initiative, announced today, to introduce and extend bus services across the city. This move is part of a broader scheme to revitalise local transport and make it more accessible and convenient for us to get around.
The Proposed Bus Services
The initial phase of the plan involves inviting bus operators to bid for tenders to operate various new and extended routes until March 31, 2026.
The proposed services include:
Service 6 (City Centre - Longton)
Service 8 (Ball Green - Norton – Smallthorne – City Centre)
Service 11 (Longton – Bentilee – City Centre)
Service 23 (Blurton - Stoke - City Centre or Newstead – Blurton – Stoke – City Centre)
Service 26 (Bentilee – Berry Hill - City Centre or Park Hall – Bentilee – Berry Hill – City Centre)
Service 36 (Meir – Longton – City Centre – Burslem – Tunstall – Kidsgrove)
Service 36A (Meir Park – Longton – City Centre – Burslem – Tunstall Kidsgrove)
Service 50 (Longton – Pool Dole (Fenton) – City Centre or Lightwood – Longton – Pool Dole (Fenton) – City Centre)
These routes are still in the proposal stage and might change before being finalised.
Council Leaders' Perspectives
Councillor Jane Ashworth, leader of the council, emphasised the commitment to making Stoke-on-Trent a healthier, wealthier, safer, greener, cleaner, and fairer city. The plan includes additional journeys with more frequency and weekend operations, aimed at improving access to key employment sites and making public transport more user-friendly for all, from students to pensioners.
Councillor Amjid Wazir highlighted the success of the Affordable Fares scheme launched last year, expressing optimism about these new tender opportunities addressing the public's concerns regarding bus availability at crucial times.
Will these new proposed bus services encourage you to buy a ticket to ride?
The proposed new bus services announced today are part of the broader Bus Service Improvement Plan, backed by £31.6 million from the Department for Transport (DfT). It follows the Affordable Fares scheme, offering significantly discounted fares in Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle.
To understand the significance of these developments, it's helpful to consider the broader context of bus use in England. According to the Department for Transport, in the year ending March 2020, there were around 4.32 billion bus passenger journeys in England, reflecting the crucial role buses play in public transport. However, this number was significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with a decrease in ridership due to various lockdowns and restrictions (Department for Transport, "Bus Statistics England: 2019/20").
First Bus Potteries cut a number of services in North Staffordshire in the summer of 2023, citing lack of demand, indicating that rider numbers hadn’t returned to pre-pandemic levels.
The proposed changes in Stoke-on-Trent are not just local improvements but also part of a national effort to revitalise public transport post-pandemic, making it more efficient, accessible, and appealing to the public.
Stoke-on-Trent's proposed bus service enhancements could mark an important step in improving the city's public transport infrastructure. These changes, once implemented, may significantly impact our daily lives, offering us more convenient and reliable transportation options.
Bus operators have until midnight on Wednesday 28 February 2024, to make a submission to tender.
Website: Stoke-on-Trent City Council
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