Transport for Greater Manchester is introducing a new annual ticket allowing customers unlimited travel on buses and trams for the equivalent of between £2.75 and £4.10 per day, a claimed saving of around 15% over a year compared to buying 13 28-day tickets. It will be available from 23rd March, the same day as the launch of a new integrated contactless payment system allowing passengers to tap in and tap out on Bee Network buses and trams, while also providing clear daily and weekly caps.
The move will see a maximum daily cap of £9.50 and weekly cap of £41 for unlimited bus and tram travel anywhere in Greater Manchester. Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said: “We’re making huge strides towards making public transport cheaper, simpler to understand and more convenient than ever before. We have delivered bus franchising on time and on budget, and with buses across the region now under our control we’re fast approaching our big moment in March when we bring in tap in, tap out payments and capped daily fares across bus and tram.
“Everyone in Greater Manchester has a stake in it – you have helped to fund it. As more people have got on board our buses we have been able to deliver a lower than planned precept, which we will use to continually fund further improvements to the Bee Network.
“We do not take the decision to increase the precept lightly, but we are building a low-cost, high-use system that is already proving to be a game-changer for the people and businesses of Greater Manchester, with lower fares, better buses and better, more reliable services.
“There are real savings to be had from using the Bee Network – that will enable people to quickly recover the cost of the precept increase – and I’d encourage as many people as possible to get on board with us.
“The annual bus and tram ticket will be perfect for frequent travellers who regularly board the Bee Network – cutting the cost by 15%. People will be able to either pay up front or spread the payments through Greater Manchester Credit Unions.”
The £11 increase in the Mayoral precept for a Band D property will fund the final delivery of the bus reform programme and support ongoing improvements in franchised bus services. The sum is lower than the predicted £12.20 increase in the Mayoral precept, first announced in the 2021 business case for the network.
