London-style integrated tap and go payment system to launch in two weeks

A new campaign has been launched to highlight the ease and benefit of contactless tap and go, with the new payment system being introduced on Bee Network buses in two weeks’ time.

Already available on Metrolink, contactless tap and go will extend to include buses from March 23, making it the quickest and easiest way to pay for travel across the Bee Network.

It means that bus passengers making multiple trips can add unlimited travel within a Metrolink zone – such as Manchester city centre – from just 40p a day.

Passengers will be able to use their contactless card, phone or smart watch on card readers on Metrolink stops or as they board the bus, in the same way that many customers already do on Metrolink, with the best value fare automatically calculated up to the daily or weekly cap.

The fares mirror the existing tickets that reduced the cost of combined bus and tram travel by around 20% when introduced in September 2023.

As well as removing the need to plan or buy tickets in advance, contactless tap and go brings affordability together with ease and convenience.

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.

The addition of Bee Network buses puts Greater Manchester on an equal footing with other global cities that offer a multi-modal, integrated and capped payment system, including London, New York, Sydney and Madrid.

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: “Until recently, bus passengers had to navigate dozens of different ticket types that varied wildly in price, with some single journeys costing upwards of £4.

“The introduction of contactless tap and go in two weeks’ time is the culmination of years of hard work to make travel easy, convenient and affordable. People might not realise just how much value there is to be had from the Bee Network.”

He added: “Anyone enjoying unlimited daily bus travel for £5 can add unlimited travel within any Metrolink zone, including Manchester city centre, for as little as 40p. Making swapping between buses and trams more flexible and affordable really will be a game-changer for our residents.

“Record numbers of people are already using contactless tap and go on Metrolink. We’re now bringing our buses into the mix, with the aim to add trains in time. It all adds up to a more joined-up experience, like in London, where people choose to leave their car at home and get on board public transport.”

For people unfamiliar or unsure about contactless, videos showing its ease of use will appear across the Bee Network social channels as part of the campaign, with information about what to expect also appearing across Bee Network platforms, stops and interchanges.

Fran Wilkinson, TfGM’s (Transport for Greater Manchester) Director for Customer and Growth, said: “Contactless tap and go has gone from strength to strength since launching on Metrolink.

“We’re really excited to incorporate buses and deliver a truly integrated contactless system across the Bee Network.”

Tap and go is designed to be easy to use to allow for more flexible journeys, but those who still want to buy tickets or pay by cash can still do so.