Secondary school pupils across Greater Manchester will travel free on buses from the new year. Leaders at the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) signed off the Our Pass 11-16 scheme today (Friday 13th November), and applications open on Tuesday 8th December.
According to Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), the pass is expected to save families up to £500 a year per child. Free travel goes live on Monday 4 January 2027. Mayor Bev Craig promised the scheme on her first official day in the role this summer. It extends Our Pass, which has given 16-18-year-olds free bus travel since 2019, and TfGM describes it as the largest offer of its kind in England outside London.
How to get an Our Pass 11-16
Who qualifies: Children become eligible on 1 September after their 11th birthday, the September they start secondary school. They must live in Greater Manchester.
If you already have an igo card: You don’t need to do anything. The card will work for free travel from January, and TfGM will email you and automatically issue a new Our Pass 11-16 early in 2027.
If you don’t have an igo card: You’ll need to apply, and there is a £10 administration fee. From December 8, you can apply online, on a paper form from Bee Network travelshops, or through the Bee Network app. The app route is open to pupils in Year 9 and above who want a digital pass.
Cards and digital passes: Years 7 and 8 get a physical card. Years 9 to 11 can choose a physical card or a digital pass. Every passholder must reapply before starting Year 9 to confirm they are still eligible and to get the digital option.
On the bus: The pass covers unlimited travel on all buses across Greater Manchester, including school services. Passholders show the card at the ticket machine as they board.
Safety measures on the network
Before the launch, TfGM is recruiting and deploying extra TravelSafe Support and Enforcement Officers to offer a reassuring presence on the network. A TravelSafe LiveChat service will let children message police and safety staff quickly and discreetly. TfGM also continues its work with the Salford City FC Foundation (formerly Foundation 92), schools, youth groups and local councils on safe travel and positive behaviour.
“Free, unlimited bus travel will make a big difference for so many families – putting up to £500 per child back in their pockets every year.”
Bev Craig, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “During my election campaign, I said I’d do whatever I could to make life easier for people across Greater Manchester who are feeling the pinch in their pockets. I’m now delivering on that, and applications for the new Our Pass 11-16 are opening next month.
“Free, unlimited bus travel will make a big difference for so many families – putting up to £500 per child back in their pockets every year. And it’s a free ticket for every young person right across Greater Manchester, to get around and make the most of the opportunities we’re building here in Greater Manchester. It’s all part of my plan to make Greater Manchester the best place to grow up and get on.”
Families can find full details on the TfGM website, and the Mayor and council leaders have launched a campaign to raise awareness of the pass in the coming weeks.
