All systems By city Bee Network
Integrated network — bus, tram and rail
The Bee Network
Not a metro. The Bee Network is the umbrella brand for all public transport in Greater Manchester, not a separate railway. The trains you ride under it are Metrolink trams and local rail services. For tram fares and stops, see the Metrolink page. See the Metrolink page.
Greater Manchester has brought its buses back under public control and pulled them, the Metrolink trams and an expanding set of local rail lines under one brand, one fare structure and one daily cap. It is the most complete integrated network outside London, and it changes the arithmetic for visitors: a bus and a tram in the same day now cost less together than they used to separately.
Which ticket should you buy?
Photo: Joedinator · CC BY 4.0
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Ticket options
Bus single
£2.10
Best for Any single bus trip
A flat capped fare anywhere in Greater Manchester, however far you go.
Bus day cap
£5.60
Best for A day of bus travel
Reached automatically with contactless. No ticket to buy.
Bus and tram day cap, Zone 1
£5.30
Best for Central Manchester and the Quays
Combines both modes under one cap, provided you tap consistently.
Bus and tram day cap, all zones
£9.60
Best for Airport trips and outer suburbs
The ceiling for a day using everything the network runs.
Weekly cap
£25.00 bus only
Best for Longer stays
Runs Monday to Sunday, so a stay straddling a weekend may not benefit.
Fares checked May 2026. Confirm on the operator’s own fares page before you buy.
Is the day ticket worth it?
Comparing the Bus single at £2.10 with the Bus day cap at £5.60. The day ticket becomes the cheaper choice from your third journey onwards.
| Journeys in a day | Singles cost | Against the day ticket |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | £2.10 | £3.50 cheaper |
| 2 | £4.20 | £1.40 cheaper |
| 3 | £6.30 | 70p more |
| 4 | £8.40 | £2.80 more |
How to pay
- Contactless on buses and at tram validators, with one shared daily cap
- The Bee Network app for tickets and live times
- Ticket machines on tram platforms
Concessions
- Under 5s travel free.
- Under 18s in Greater Manchester pay a flat £1 bus fare with an igo card.
- 16–18 year olds and apprentices can apply for Our Pass, giving free bus travel.
Worth knowing
- Tap the same card for every leg. The cap only works if the system can see the journeys belong together.
- Trams still need a touch in and a touch out; buses need only a touch on. This asymmetry is the most common mistake.
- Local rail lines are being folded into Bee Network fares in stages, so check whether your specific station is included yet before relying on the cap.
Photos
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Common questions
- How much is a single on the Bee Network?
- The cheapest single listed is £2.10 (Bus single).
- Is a day ticket worth it on the Bee Network?
- It pays for itself on your third journey. The Bus day cap costs £5.60 and the Bus single £2.10, so 3 singles come to £6.30.
- Can I pay with a contactless card on the Bee Network?
- Yes. Contactless on buses and at tram validators, with one shared daily cap.
- What do children pay on the Bee Network?
- Under 5s travel free.