Changes to bus fares across the Potteries from January 1st 2025

Bus passengers in The Potteries will pay the equivalent, or less, than the £3 fare cap being introduced by the government in the new year, First Bus has announced today.

The changes to fares, which take effect from January 1^st, 2025, have been made after the government announced it was increasing the cap on single fares from £2 to £3.

Despite having the option of increasing some fares by a larger amount, First Bus has worked with the region’s local transport authorities to keep any rises to a minimum.

Single journeys will now cost £1.90, £2.40 or £3 depending on the distance, meaning many customers will be paying less than the government fare cap.

First Bus is also encouraging more customers to make use of its Tap On, Tap Off (TOTO) technology that allows customers to swipe their bank card or device on an on-board payment reader to ensure they get the best value fares across multiple days – making it the quickest and most cost-effective way to travel. Currently, more than half of all customers use TOTO.

Paul Townley, Interim Commercial Director at First Bus Potteries, said:

"To align with the incoming UK Government’s £3 flat fare cap in England, some of our fares will be changing from January 1^st. The way we charge our customers is changing too as we move to a fairer model, where they will only be charged based on the distance of journey travelled and the number of trips made.

“Bus travel remains a great value option that is good for society and the environment. We have recently invested in Tap On, Tap Off technology across our UK operations to make sure using the bus is an easy and convenient travel option for our customers. Customers will never pay more than the daily or weekly cap using this payment method.”

A full list of the new fares can be found here: www.firstbus.co.uk/fares 

ENDS