Passengers in the Greater Manchester region are among the first in the country to benefit from simpler and more convenient train travel. The new rail fares were introduced yesterday (Sunday 7th December), which also means more than 50% of train journeys in Greater Manchester will become cheaper.
With such a confusing range of fares available, including many that restrict passengers to travelling on a particular service or with one train operating company, this has been replaced by two simple options. The change is part of the Government’s UK-wide transformation of fares, making them easier to understand and journeys more seamless – to bring more people back to rail.
Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy, said: “We know the current labyrinth of fares and prices can be confusing, and fixing that is crucial to rebuilding trust in our railways and encouraging more people to take the train. Across the UK, we’re driving forward a programme of fare reforms – introducing simpler ticketing, expanding digital and contactless options, and laying the foundations for Great British Railways to deliver a better service for passengers.”
When the new rail fares will be introduced in Greater Manchester and how it works
Greater Manchester is one of the first areas in the country to benefit from this type of rail fare reform, which will also pave the way for contactless payments and integration with the Bee Network from December 2026. From Sunday 7th December 2025, everyone who buys a ticket on the day they’re travelling between two railway stations in Greater Manchester will be offered the following options:
- Anytime
- Off-peak
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When the simplified rail fares are introduced in December, Advance Purchase tickets and season tickets will still be available to those who book before the day they travel. Railcard discounts will still apply and the season tickets currently on offer in Greater Manchester will remain unchanged. Station ticket offices will continue to accept cash payments and print paper tickets.
Will the new, simpler train fares be cheaper?
Overall, the change will mean the average fare in Greater Manchester will fall by 5.6%. More than half (52%) of train journeys in Greater Manchester will be cheaper, with customers saving up to £1.50 on some trips, as many single fares will be reduced to ensure they are half the price of a return. It could also save money for around 4,000 customers a week who are not currently getting the best deal, by using anytime tickets to travel during off-peak periods.
On the remaining 48% of journeys, customers will see a slight price increase. But for most of these trips (85%), it will be a rise of 20p or less. Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) stated that the new system has not been implemented to increase revenues for train operating companies.
Which Greater Manchester services will the new train fares apply to?
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. They will be available to buy from the 96 stations in Greater Manchester and online. Other types of tickets will still be offered to those who book in advance.
TransPennine Express (TPE) services between Stockport and Manchester, Manchester and Stalybridge, and Manchester and Manchester Airport will be included in the fare reform.
Darren Higgins, commercial director at TPE, said: “We’re pleased to support the introduction of simpler fares across Greater Manchester, which will make rail travel easier for our customers. This change, which affects several key TPE routes, including services to and from Manchester Airport, will help customers to avoid overpaying for everyday journeys.”
“These simpler fares are a stepping stone to bringing rail into the Bee Network in December 2026”
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “For too long, confusion around the complicated web of tickets has been a barrier to people choosing the train. In December, Greater Manchester will be one of the first city regions outside London to get a simple set of on-the-day fares – vital progress in making rail travel easier, fairer and more accessible for everyone.
“We’ve seen that making public transport more affordable and simpler boosts passenger numbers, with more people than ever boarding our yellow buses and integrated tap and go payments with our tram network. These simpler fares are a stepping stone to bringing rail into the Bee Network in December 2026, joining up trains with buses, trams and active travel for an integrated public transport system like those enjoyed by other global cities.”
Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) said it is working with the government and the rail industry to bring services and stations into the Bee Network to deliver a fully joined-up public transport system for the city region. In March 2025, tap and go payments were launched across Greater Manchester’s Bee Network, with capped fares across its buses and trams, but now TfGM is looking to expand daily and weekly fare caps to also include train travel.