Combined Tram and Bus ticket set to save residents 15% on fares

Picture of Mark Wilson

Share:

Combined Tram and Bus ticket set to save residents 15% on fares

Share:

Picture of Mark Wilson

Share:

BUS-TRAIN-TRAM
Credit Transport for Greater Manchester

On March 23rd 2025, residents that use the trams and buses throughout the Greater areas will benefit from the launch of an all in one and bus ticket which will offer annual travellers unlimited travel from as little as £2.75 – £4.10 per day.

This combined ticket will save passengers 15.4% on annual fares across the Bee Network when compared to buying thirteen 28-day tickets during the course of a year.

For those that regularly travel using both trams and buses in Zones 1-4 across the new combined ticket can save passengers over £200 on journeys every year.

The introduction of a combined ticket has been possible thanks to buses in the Greater Manchester area being brought back under local control for the first time in four decades.

Local residents have also played their part in making this ticketing option available. With funding from the Mayoral precept being used to run, maintain and improve the bus network, with the opportunity to expand to system.

Launch of new annual bus and tram ticket - Transport for Greater Manchester
Launch of new annual bus and tram ticket // Credit: Transport for Greater Manchester

A daily cap of £9.50 and a weekly cap of £41 will be in place for passengers who travel across any of the zones of the city during the rush hours when using the new bus and tram ticket.

There is also a cap for off peak fares which will no doubt be beneficial for those who want to travel, shop or have a meal out with friends outside of peak times.

The flexibility of payments for passengers can be spread monthly or annually – at no extra cost – with the support of a Credit Union loan, which will unlock further savings.

In addition to the existing Bee Bus annual ticket, the bus and tram annual ticket will complement the current annual travel card, which offers unlimited travel for tram passengers within their selected zones.

Moreover, the new £2 ‘hopper’ fare allows passengers to use multiple buses within one hour, and there are reduced 7-day, 28-day, and annual tickets available.

As more stations across southern England are set to welcome the contactless payment system, the Bee Network will be welcoming its own integrated contactless payment system on 23rd March 2025.

Working in the same manner as the system in the capital, passengers will be able to use their bank cards to tap in and out during traveling.

Price caps will also be set to ensure daily and weekly limits are never surpassed regardless of the number of journeys made on buses or trams during a 24 hour period or seven day period.

The Bee Network is dedicated to keeping prices as low as possible for their customers and the announcement of this new ticket will no doubt prove popular with the people of Greater Manchester.

Mayor Andy Burnham aboard one of the new buses - Transport for Greater Manchester
Mayor Andy Burnham aboard one of the new buses // Credit: Transport for Greater Manchester

“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.

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester

Responses

Related Articles

Upcoming Events