The UK’s second biggest urban area will be the first to follow Transport for London’s example of multi-modal fares, with big changes due this week.
From Sunday 23rd March, Greater Manchester’s Bee Network, which expanded to include trams and buses last year, will automatically calculate daily ticketing across both public transport modes.
This means passengers will be able to tap-in at their departure stop using contactless payment machines with a debit or credit card, or smartphone, board a tram, then change to the network’s bus services and only be charged a combined total lowest fare at the end of the day, rather than at individual stages. The technology relies on the fact passengers use the same payment method at all parts of their journey.
The move will bring costs down and follows the decision to roll out a flat bus fare of £2 for any journey within the city region’s 493 square miles and 10 boroughs. Although residents and regular visitors will already be used to the tap-in-tap-out process for trams, buses will only require people to tap-in once the switchover — dubbed Change Day — has arrived. This means it will not be necessary to tap out after a bus ride.
‘Record numbers of people are already using contactless tap and go on Metrolink,’ said Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham. ‘We’re now bringing our buses into the mix, with the aim to add trains in time. It all adds up to a more joined-up experience, like in London, where people choose to leave their car at home and get on board public transport… Making swapping between buses and trams more flexible and affordable really will be a game-changer for our residents.’
Greater Manchester’s Bee Network is due to include all 96 railway stations across the city region by 2030, serving 130 miles of routes.
Images: Martin Guttridge-Hewitt
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