Kaleigh WattersonNorth West
PA MediaA £2 cap on single fares across Greater Manchester‘s transport network is to remain in place for a fourth year.
Metrolink tram fares will also be frozen for a sixth consecutive year in 2026, Transport for Greater Manchester (TFGM) said.
Holders of concessionary passes are also set to be able to use their passes on buses before 9:30am after pilots earlier this year.
The change to concessionary passes – which is subject to the confirmation of budgets – is expected to come into force in March.
Currently, concessionary passes can only be used after 09:30am.
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said removing the restriction on concessionary passes on buses was “the right thing to do”.
He told the the measure would cost between £2m-£5m.
“We believe it would be more than onset by the benefits it creates,” he said, citing missed appointments in the health service and those who look after family members.
“Just from a personal level, it will lift a lot of people’s lives, it will lift a worry off their shoulders,” he said.
He added that leaders in the area were “committed to making sure that travel remains affordable”.
When asked if the fare freeze was sustainable, he said there would be a need to review the fares “at some point”, but said it was not the right time.
Demand ‘spread’
“We’re still building the Bee Network at this moment in time,” he said.
“The more we can get people on the Bee Network, the more money we bring into the fare box and the more we can sustain these low fares.”
TFGM said the concessionary passes were most used on the services 192, 409, 471, 330, 84 and 201 during a pilot in November.
It added the demand for services was more evenly spread and had reduced the usual surge on the first post-curfew services.
The 9:30am restrictions will remain in place on tram services.
All buses in Greater Manchester were brought under public control in January.
A tap-in, tap-out payment system across was extended to cover buses as well as trams in March.
Earlier this month, the mayor announced plans to integrate rail services into the Bee Network.