Pay as You Go contactless payments to be extended across whole Bee Network from March 2025

Public transport users who travel on both Manchester Metrolink and Bee Network buses will be able to enjoy price caps between the two modes as from 23rd March 2025. Having already been used on the trams for some time, the expansion will mean that passengers will be able to seamlessly change between the trams and Bee Network buses (any bus services which are operating outside of the Bee Network are not included) using contactless payment with the fares automatically calculated with a daily price cap.

Andy Burnham, Greater Manchester Mayor, said: “n March 2021 I announced that Greater Manchester would bring all of its buses back under local control as part of the Bee Network – providing cheaper, easier and more convenient transport and simple, easy-to-understand fares and tickets.

“Just over a year ago the vision started to become a reality when the Bee Network launched, and we saw the first phase of buses joining the Bee Network – representing the biggest change to the bus network in almost 40 years. On 5 January next year that process will be complete. Every bus in the region will be working as a part of the Bee Network and accountable to passengers.

“We’ve already started to see the benefits franchising is delivering with bus services now cleaner, cheaper and more reliable than before with record numbers of passengers and there is more to come.

“From 23 March pay as you go will be launching across Bee Network buses, building on the system that has been in place on Metrolink since 2019. 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.

“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.”

Under this new system passengers travelling on Bee Network buses will simply touch on as they board using a contactless payment method and their fares will be worked out for them, ensuring they never pay more than the daily or weekly cap.

Passengers who use both Bee Network bus and Metrolink can enjoy unlimited travel for a maximum of £9.50 per day (or £7.80 if starting to travel after 0930 or all day at weekends). If using Metrolink across fewer zones then the cap will be even cheaper.

To start with, this will only be available for adult fares.

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