Bee Network to launch combined annual tickets for bus and tram travel

Greater Manchester’s Bee Network is to expand its annual ticket offer to include multi-modal tickets covering both bus and tram travel from 23rd March 2025.

Building on the annual ticket for Bee Network buses, the new ticket will cover both bus and tram journeys. Passengers will also be able to spread the payments for the ticket monthly or annually at no extra cost through loans from local credit unions in the city-region, including Stockport Credit Union.

It will be available from 23^rd March, the same day as the launch of a new integrated contactless payment system allowing passengers to tap in and tap out on Bee Network buses and trams, while also providing clear daily and weekly caps meaning customers will never pay more than the daily or weekly limit regardless of how many journeys they make. 

Keeping fares low is a key part of the Bee Network and has only been made possible by Greater Manchester becoming the first area to bring buses back under local control in 40 years.

Residents across Greater Manchester have played a key role in the historic delivery of bus franchising, with funding from the Mayoral precept having been used to implement franchising and to now maintain and improve the bus network. To support the ongoing improvement of better bus services for all residents and businesses across the city-region, the planned precept increase of £12 (for a Band D property) has been reduced to £11 after franchising was delivered on time and within budget.

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said:  

“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.

“We do not take the decision to increase the precept lightly, but we are building a low-cost, high-use system that is already proving to be a game-changer for the people and businesses of Greater Manchester, with lower fares, better buses and better, more reliable services.

“There are real savings to be had from using the Bee Network – that will enable people to quickly recover the cost of the precept increase – and I’d encourage as many people as possible to get on board with us.  

“The annual bus and tram ticket will be perfect for frequent travellers who regularly board the Bee Network – cutting the cost by 15 per cent. People will be able to either pay up front or spread the payments through Greater Manchester Credit Unions.” 

The new product has been announced alongside several proposals – all aimed at improving the experience for passengers – set to be considered by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority on Friday 31^st January, including: 

• Funding for new digital real-time customer information displays at bus stops and interchanges across Greater Manchester, making it easier for passengers to find the information they need to travel with confidence. 
• The acquisition by TfGM of the existing estate of almost 3,500 bus shelters in Greater Manchester and will be developing the tender for a contract to transform, modernise and enhance bus shelters for the benefit of our passengers. 

Transport Commissioner for Greater Manchester, Vernon Everitt, said:  

“These are the latest steps in a continuous programme of work to deliver better and more joined up public transport through the Bee Network for the people and businesses of Greater Manchester. These new fares product and simple ‘tap and go’ payment with daily and weekly fare caps are making public transport more convenient and affordable and are core to our aim of encouraging more people to use our services. 

“All fare revenue is retained within the publicly owned transport system and used to deliver services and fund further improvements. ?The more passengers we can attract, the more we can keep?the cost of travel down. 

“We are also getting on with further improvements to our Bee Network app and taking control of the bus shelter estate across Greater Manchester to allow us to deliver better facilities for people while they wait for their service.”