All Bee Network bus fares will be frozen for 2026 to battle 'the cost-of-living struggle', Andy Burnham has announced.

The £2 fare cap will stay in place for a fourth consecutive year, and continue to be a 'hopper' single, so passengers can use as many buses as they like within an hour of buying. The hopper costs £1 for a child.

Mr Burnham said keeping fares was 'the right thing to do' in the face of the cost-of-living crisis.

He told a press conference on Tuesday 23 December 23: "As I go about the city region, I hear what [the £2 cap] means to people. 

"People often come up to me and say that's really helped me, can you keep it as long as you can? So I can hear those voices all of the time.
It just makes travel simple as well —you tap in, £2, and everyone knows exactly where they stand with it. It's been a really important innovation."

Andy Burnham (second left) and Dr Joy Watson (second right) announce Bee Network bus fares will be frozen in 2026 (Image - LDRS)

Metrolink tram fares are set to stay at their current prices, last changed in 2020, for the first part of next year — but Mr Burnham admitted some tickets could cost more at the end of next year.

The mayor has also announced disabled and older passengers will get unlimited free travel on Greater Manchester's buses from March, scrapping rules that prevented bus pass holders getting onboard for free before 9:30am. Previously, they had to pay a 'concessionary fare' instead.

The rule change, thought to cost £2-5m, comes after two trials in August and November and affects around 400,000 passengers. One of them is Dr Joy Watson, a disabled people's campaigner from Eccles with dementia, who called the move 'amazing'.

She said: "It'll definitely bring freedom, because I won't need to get stressed with my dementia. If I'm late to a meeting or something, my dementia causes me to get very stressed and then I'll be no good at the meeting. It's a win-win situation."

And Nakib Narat, from the Greater Manchester older people's equality panel, called it 'a life-changing move'. He added: "This change gives us real freedom – to make early medical appointments, stay active in our communities, and help with childcare without worrying about the fare as the cost of living rises. It is a life-changing move for public health, fairness, and tackling social isolation."

A list of every Bee Network bus fare as of 2026 (Image - LDRS)

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