New Bee Network bus and Metrolink tram pricing announced as pay-as-you-go launch date confirmed
A major overhaul of Bee Network bus and Metrolink tram tickets is coming to Greater Manchester in 2025.
Transport chiefs are rolling out a new ‘pay-as-you-go’ ticket system from March 23, meaning passengers can use their phone or contactless bank card on either a tram or bus, and be charged for one ‘multi-modal’ ticket.
Daily tickets will be capped at £9.50 for unlimited travel within Greater Manchester, with off-peak discounts taking the price for journeys starting after 9.30am, down to £7.80 for all-Greater Manchester travel.
‘Hopper’ bus fares, which allow someone to take as many services in an hour, will be in place by that point, and it’s thought they will move from a printed QR-code to the tap-in-and-out system. All Greater Manchester buses will be under public control by January 5, when south Manchester services are ‘franchised’.
The overhaul means Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) have released new ticket prices for the new tap-in-and-out system — which is only available on adult tickets. We’ve summarised them below.
New ‘multi-modal’ bus and tram fares
For bus only travel, singles will remain at £2, and a day ticket is £5. Weeklies are £20. It’s £6 for unlimited bus journeys with tram travel inside one Metrolink zone, or £5.40 off-peak and £24.80 weekly. For bus travel and trams in zones one and two, covering the city centre, it’s £6.70, or £6.40 off-peak and £28.40 weekly. For unlimited travel on all Greater Manchester buses and trams, it’s £9.50 a day, or £7.80 off-peak and £41 weekly.
'Ordinary Mancs, extraordinary stories'
You’re currently reading the new-look Manchester World and we’d love for you to have a look around the site and tell us what you think. We’ve got you covered however you digest your news. You can sign up to our new bumper Friday newsletter but if video is more your thing, you can follow us on TikTok
New Metrolink fares
Metrolink-only fares are set to remain the same, with a one-zone single costing £1.40. A one-zone day ticket is £2.70, or £1.90 off-peak. For travel in zones one and two, a single is £2.80, day ticket is £4/30, and off-peak is £3.50. A single from zones one to four is £4.60, a day ticket is £7.10, and off-peak is £4.90. Children under five can travel free when accompanied by an adult, and children over-five pay half an adult fare.
What has Andy Burnham said?
“This is a massive step forward in terms of delivering a London-style transport network for the people of Greater Manchester, putting our region on par with not only the capital but also major cities across the world that offer seamless, integrated travel by public transport,” said Mayor Andy Burnham.
“Moving to this pay as you go system is going to make public transport more affordable and easier to pay for. It will take the worry out of choosing the right ticket for passengers and encourage many more people to get on board with the Bee Network.”