- Half price bus travel for region’s 18-21 years olds from September
- Around 150,000 young people set to save, with unlimited travel on all Bee Network buses for the equivalent of £1.43 per day
- It’s the latest initiative to help young people get on in Greater Manchester, with direct access to good jobs and training opportunities through the trailblazing Greater Manchester Baccalaureate (Mbacc).
- Older and disabled people to get free round-the-clock travel as part of new August pilot
- Changes part of trailblazing decade-long strategy to boost access to opportunity, grow the economy and ensure everyone can live well
Around 150,000 18–21-year-olds in Greater Manchester will benefit from half price Bee Network bus travel, better connecting them to work, training or education opportunities.
Set to launch on 1st September 2025, young people will be able to buy a 28-day bus travelcard for £40 - half the adult fare price they would normally pay. Equivalent to just £1.43 per day, it provides unlimited travel on any Bee Network bus – including a growing network of night buses – helping young people to earn, learn and socialise.
The plans were announced last night by Mayor Andy Burnham as part of the launch of the Greater Manchester Strategy (GMS), the region’s vision for the next decade to grow the local economy and ensure everyone can live well.
It’s the latest initiative to help young people get on in Greater Manchester, with direct access to good jobs and training opportunities through the trailblazing Greater Manchester Baccalaureate (Mbacc). Cut-price travel on the Bee Network is all part of the drive to better connect more young people with opportunities anywhere in Greater Manchester with affordable, more reliable and fully integrated public transport.
Greater Manchester has already made significant leaps in reducing the financial barriers to education. Free bus travel for 16–18-year-olds (via Our Pass) and care leavers up to the age of 25 help cushion the financial burden young people can often face when leaving school and considering their next step.
Applications for Our Pass are currently open for this year’s cohort available via the Bee Network app and website, successful applicants will receive a digital pass in the Bee Network app.
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said:
“More than 50,000 16-18-year-olds are already making the most of free travel with Our Pass. Now, we’re making bus travel more affordable for 18-21-year-olds, supporting them into education, training or the world of work.
“Come September, many young people will be starting their next exciting chapter in life. But the costs of taking on new opportunities – like joining a workplace on an apprenticeship or T Level placement - is often a massive consideration and worry for young people. I’m really pleased we can help them make savings by bringing the cost of public transport down.”
Herbie Hursthouse, Distribution Planning Manager at Together & Chair of future-pro Manchester said:
“The new 18-21 Bee Network pass shows a fantastic investment into the future of Greater Manchester. Allowing travel in and around the area to be much more accessible and inclusive for everyone. We will open up our amazing pool of talent whilst saving aspiring professionals money along the way.”
The Greater Manchester economy is experiencing faster growth compared to the UK as a whole – and making travel easier, more affordable and inclusive for all as part of the Bee Network is critical to our continued success. But living happily and healthily later in life is just as important as getting a good start.
Alongside half price travel for young people, disabled and older people in Greater Manchester are set to benefit from free round-the-clock bus travel next month as part of a new pilot.
Currently those with a TfGM-issued concessionary travel pass can travel for free between 9.30am and midnight during the week and all day on weekends and public holidays.
Starting on Friday 1st August, the pre-9.30am travel restriction will be lifted on a trial basis for a month. As well as free early morning travel, it will mean older and disabled people will be able to board the Bee Network’s night buses, all night, for free for the first time. TfGM will gather data on the demand to see if a permanent change is possible.
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said:
“Just as important as getting a good start into a great career is living well later in life. Better connections to loved ones, healthcare and the surrounding community is such an important part of living a healthy and fulfilling retirement.
“We’re proud to be lifting the fare restrictions for a pilot period in August, providing round-the-clock free travel on any Bee Network bus for older and disabled passengers. Many passengers tell us that their local bus service is a lifeline they couldn’t be without, so we hope this trial change will be a welcome one.”
The changes are the latest example of how Greater Manchester continues to lead the way in making public transport more affordable and accessible.
As well as the £2 bus fare cap, in March this year the Bee Network introduced daily capped fares across bus and tram for the first time ever. It provides flexibility for people to use Tap&Go across buses and trams, knowing they’ll always pay the best daily or weekly fare.
More on the TfGM page