With four months to go until all buses in Greater Manchester come under local control, the Mayor of Greater Manchester has confirmed plans for a new annual bus pass that will cut the cost of travel in the city region.
Available from January – subject to agreement by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority – and costing £800, customers will be able to spread payment, at no extra cost, throughout the year with a Credit Union loan – saving almost £5 a week, almost £20 a month and up to £240 a year compared with the lower fares also being introduced for seven and 28 day Bee Network bus tickets.
TfGM is working with Greater Manchester Credit Unions to enable to people to apply for the new annual pass from December 5th so their bus ticket is available to use from January 5th. TfGM is also working with the Credit Unions to offer customers the chance to spread the cost of existing annual Metrolink products or an annual bus and tram pass from March 2025.
And a new ‘hopper fare’ will replace single tickets on Bee Network services, providing passengers with more flexibility by allowing them to ‘hop on’ as many Bee Network buses as they like within one hour.
The annual, weekly and 28-day tickets will provide unlimited travel on Bee Network bus services across the whole of Greater Manchester and are intended to make public transport more affordable so more people can access jobs, training and opportunities.
The announcement comes as the results of the latest Greater Manchester Residents’ survey published this week show more than half of respondents (55%) say that their cost of living has increased over the last month, while 52% report their mental health has been negatively impacted in the last month by a cost-of-living pressure.
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: “With so many people across Greater Manchester struggling with the cost of living, I am really pleased we are able to drive down the cost of using Bee Network buses by reducing the price of weekly, 28-day and annual travel.
“Through this innovative initiative we are making our best value products available to all, and I hope it helps give people worried about bills certainty about the cost of travel and gives them one less thing to worry about.
“This is only possible because we are leading the way in bringing buses under local control after almost 40 years, and now we are leading the way in making our networks more accessible, inclusive and affordable.”
Rose Marley, Chief Executive Officer of Co-operative UK, said: “This is a truly co-operative offer, not only is it better for the environment and better for your pocket it will also demonstrate the benefits of joining a credit union and how that can help you further with the cost of living.
“Everyone is working together to deliver the best possible outcomes for Greater Manchester, it’s local power at its best.”
Ciara Davies, Executive Lead for the Greater Manchester Consortium of Credit Unions, added: “The Greater Manchester Consortium of Credit Unions is delighted to be involved in this innovative new initiative with Transport for Greater Manchester.
“Credit Unions are not-for-profit financial co-operatives that have been providing access to affordable financial services in communities and workplaces in GM for over 30 years. This new product will spread the cost of travel and save people money which is just one of the ways in which credit unions can help make your money go further.”
The changes to fares build on steps already taken to bring down the cost of travel, including the launch of the discounted Bee Anybus + Tram ticket in September 2023 – cutting the cost of combined journeys by up to 20%, the introduction of capped bus fares in September 2022 and the continued support for Our Pass, offering free travel to 16–18-year-olds. Metrolink fares have also been frozen since 2020.
Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett, said: “This announcement on cheaper fares on the Bee Network is fantastic news for local people, and following on from the recent night-bus rollout, shows the benefits of having an integrated, public-controlled regional transport system.
“Many residents are struggling in this cost-of-living crisis and a lot of hard work has taken place behind the scenes to provide cheaper travel for our residents.
“I would urge people to look at options with their local Credit Union as there are many ways they can help with accessible loans and options to save, both at very competitive rates when compared to high-cost lenders.”
Notes to editors:
Credit Unions in Greater Manchester that TfGM is working with: No1 CopperPot, Cash Box, South Manchester Credit Union, Manchester Credit Union, Hoot, Unify, Stockport Credit Union, Metro Moneywise, The Penny Post Group, GMB Credit Union, Oldham Credit Union, The Coop Credit Union, Salford Credit Union, YourB.
Cost saving for the Bee Network Annual is based on 52 weekly payments of £15.38 compared with the £20 seven-day ticket or 12 monthly payments of £66.67 per month, compared with the price of 13 x 28 day-tickets.
