Greater Manchester’s council leaders and transport bosses have agreed that there will be no fare increase for Metrolink tickets in January 2015.
The fare freeze will remain in place until the end of August next year for customers using paper tickets on trams, and will remain in place until 2016 for customers who start using get me there smart tickets when they become available on Metrolink during 2015.
The decision to freeze fares comes in light of the significant improvement work taking place across the Metrolink network, with major transformation works under way at the Victoria and Deansgate-Castlefield stops and the Second City Crossing (2CC) tramline being built through the city centre.
When work finishes at the Deansgate-Castlefield stop next summer, a major new four platform tram stop will be built in St Peter’s Square, closer to Mosley Street. A new Metrolink stop is also being created in Exchange Square as part of the 2CC programme.
Councillor Andrew Fender, Chair of the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee, said: “A substantial amount of improvement works have already been carried out across the Metrolink network and we would like to thank our customers for their patience while these works have taken place.
“This transformation is, however, ongoing and while these works will deliver significant long-term benefits for all Metrolink users and the wider city region, we do recognise that they can cause short-term disruption for some passengers.
“In response to this we have taken the decision to freeze fares for as long as possible, which means there will be no price rises on paper products until August next year and no price rises through to 2016 for those people who adopt get me there once it becomes available.”
