Change Day’ has arrived in Greater Manchester with the launch of a modern, contactless ‘tap and go’ payment system across the Bee Network.
Passengers can now travel seamlessly between bus and tram and pay for their journey by tapping on when boarding a bus without the need for a ticket, making it the quickest and easiest way to pay for travel.
By introducing contactless tap and go across both Bee Network buses and trams, Greater Manchester has realised its long-held ambition of having a truly multi-modal, integrated and affordable transport system that is on par with other major cities around the world. This offer will be further enhanced with the integration of rail services and stations into the Bee Network by 2028.
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said:
“We said we would deliver a London-style transport network for the people and businesses of Greater Manchester and that is exactly what we have done.
“We have led the way with franchising and been able to bring buses together with the largest tram network in the country under one system that makes travelling across Greater Manchester easier, more affordable and more convenient than ever before.
“Today is the culmination of years of hard work to deliver a public transport network befitting of Greater Manchester’s place as a world-leading city-region that works for our people, businesses and many millions of visitors.
“With a more joined-up experience, where people can choose to leave their car at home and use public transport, there’s never been a better time to get on board the Bee Network and take advantage of the incredible value it has to offer.”
Tap and go will mean bus passengers no longer need to buy a physical ticket to travel on a Bee Network bus, but those still wanting to pay cash or purchase a ticket can still do so onboard or via the Bee Network app.
Bee Network staff and ambassadors will be out on the network in the first week of ‘tap and go’ to help passengers with the new system.
Contactless tap and go is now the most popular way for Metrolink customers to pay for their travel, with more than 16.5 million journeys being made using it last year – a 20% increase on the previous year. Almost two-thirds (64%) of those journeys are made using contactless devices, such as phones and watches, rather than bank cards.
A new annual bus and tram ticket has also been launched that provides unlimited travel across the Bee Network for the equivalent of between £2.76 and £4.10 a day*. Customers can spread the payments weekly or monthly – at no extra cost – with the support of a Credit Union loan. Tickets are also available to buy outright from TfGM ticket offices or via the Bee Network app.
