Greater Manchester intends to permanently lift the 9:30am restriction on concessionary passes enabling older and disabled passholders to use their concessionary passes 24/7 rather than having to wait until 9:30am to get on board . Subject to finalisation of budgets in February and consultation on changes to the concessionary scheme, the change would be implemented from 1 March 2026.
We can also confirm that all bus and tram fares—including the £2 adult single—will be frozen for the whole of 2026, reaffirming Greater Manchester’s collective commitment to tackle cost of living challenges and keep public transport affordable.
What this means
- Free, round‑the‑clock bus travel for older and disabled passholders across the Bee Network.
- The £2 adult single bus fare is intended to remain for a fourth consecutive year.
- All other bus fares will remain the same in 2026
- Metrolink fares are also frozen until the end of 2026 for a sixth consecutive year.
Greater Manchester was the first area to introduce a £2 single bus fare in September 2022, and the Bee Network has continued to drive down the cost of travel, with reductions in seven and 28-day bus tickets. An annual bus ticket – which people can spread the cost of through Greater Manchester’s credit unions – also enables people to save even more. The new announcements complement the extensive support currently in place for young people, with over 50,000 16-18-year-olds getting free travel through Our Pass, care leavers now benefitting up to the age of 25, and 18-21-year-olds getting half price travel.
You can read more in the press release here.
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