Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has announced that from 7 December, the city-region will become one of the first areas to benefit from simpler rail fares.
The new fares will be valid on rail services run by all operators and all single journeys will be half the price of return trips.
TfGM stated that this paves the way for contactless payments and integration with the Bee Network from December 2026, joining up trains with buses, trams and active travel.
‘On the Right Track for Growth: A 2050 Vision for the Future of Rail in Greater Manchester’ was unveiled by the mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, during a speech at the Public Transport in the North of England conference in central Manchester 3 December.
Developed alongside rail industry partners, it sets out a roadmap to improve, grow and ultimately transform rail; doubling passenger numbers.
Greater Manchester’s rail network covers over 318km, across 96 stations and delivers over 40 million passenger trips into Manchester’s central stations.
However, TfGM stated, the current system faces significant challenges: limited local influence and accountability, many inaccessible stations, crowded services, and issues with reliability.
Acting on the government’s plans for reform, the new vision seeks to address these challenges, ensuring a more responsive, inclusive, and dependable network supporting residents, businesses and communities.
In doing so it will support ambitions set out in the Greater Manchester strategy and the delivery of the new £1bn ‘GM Good Growth Fund’.
The publication of the rail Vision comes almost a year before the first local rail services join the Bee Network from December 2026.
Managing director at TransPennine Express, Chris Jackson, said: “We’re proud to join forces with Transport for Greater Manchester and our partners to shape an ambitious plan that will make rail travel better for everyone in the region.
“Our goal is simple: a reliable, accessible railway that serves communities, supports growth, and is ready for the future.”
