Manchester Metrolink - Fares and Usage

Fares and Usage

Fares are charged according on the number of fare zones travelled through, and whether travel is in the peak period – before 0930 on weekdays (except public holidays).

Tickets must be purchased from the new touch-screen Bachmann machines at each stop before boarding the tram. Single journeys must be completed within 90 minutes, return journeys the same day. All ticket machines accept coins, or debit and credit cards. At least one ticket machine on each station will also accept banknotes, and will give change. Those machines which accept banknotes also sell Season tickets, and a range of Day Saver, Weekend Saver, Group Tickets, 4-Adult Saver (£10) and Family tickets too.

Metrolink now uses card ticketing stock very similar to the systems in use with National Rail services, however return tickets are printed on one ticket, unlike the two 'Out' and 'Return' portions printed on the railway. Previously, smaller paper tickets were issued.

Metrolink carried 18.8 million passengers in 2004. According to Metrolink sources, at least two million fewer car journeys have been made each year along the tram route due to the introduction of Metrolink. Metrolink is the busiest tram system in the UK and many services are extremely busy, especially at peak times at the city-centre stations. In the first two years of Metrolink operation, peak-hour patronage was well below expected levels, but off-peak patronage exceeded expectations. Metrolink reacted by reducing peak fares, which improved loadings.

Overall in its first full year of operation 11 million journeys were made on Metrolink compared to the annual expected level of 12 million journeys after maturity^, and in the first full year of operation on the Eccles line 3 million journeys were made on Metrolink compared to the annual expected level of 6 million journeys after maturity^.