Greater Manchester’s Bee Network has announced a range of initiatives to make public transport more affordable, offering new fare reductions to ease the cost of living.
These fares, effective from January 2025, are part of a broader effort to create a more accessible and integrated public transport system under local control.
The region’s transition to a franchised model for bus services, set to be completed on 5 January, allows Greater Manchester to manage fares, routes, and service standards directly.
The Bee Network has received £66.5 million in government funding, enabling it to maintain low fares and improve service reliability. This marks the first time in 40 years a UK city-region has brought buses under local control, setting a precedent for integrated public transport outside London.
Key fare initiatives include:
Annual Bee Network Ticket:
Starting 5 January, passengers can purchase an annual ticket for 800 GBP, equating to 2.20 GBP per day. Offered in partnership with local credit unions, the cost can be spread through weekly or monthly payments, making it more accessible.
This option is anticipated to offer savings of up to 240 GBP per year.
Reduced Weekly and Monthly Tickets:
Seven-day bus tickets will drop to 20 GBP for adults and 10 GBP for children. This compares with 21 GBP and 10.50 GBP currently, offering a reduction at a time when most public transport fares continue to rise.
A 28-day pass will be reduced to 80 GBP for adults and 40 GBP for children, saving over 5 GBP for adults compared to current prices.
‘Hopper’ Fare:
Passengers will also soon be able to make unlimited bus journeys within one hour for the price of a single ticket, enhancing connectivity across the network.
Frozen Tram Fares:
Metrolink fares will remain frozen for the fifth consecutive year, ensuring stability in travel costs.
Extended Free Travel for Care Leavers:
From April 2025, care leavers aged 18–25 will benefit from free bus travel across Greater Manchester and discounted tram travel during off-peak hours.
These latest announcements follow the news that Greater Manchester will keep single bus fares capped at 2 GBP in 2025, despite the national cap rising to 3 GBP.
This emphasises Greater Manchester’s commitment to low fares, as affordable travel is central to connecting residents with employment, education, and social opportunities.
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham said:When most bills are going up, it feels good to be bringing the cost of travel down, supporting our residents and making it easier to access education, jobs and the support they need to get on in life.
Getting around by public transport has, in the past, been costly. All eyes are on Greater Manchester as we show how keeping costs down and getting more people on board can deliver massive benefits to both our communities and our economy. It’s a model that London has reaped the rewards from for decades.
