Four months ago, Greater Manchester had never seen a bus journey like this.

But these types of bus journeys have now taken place 10 million times since March 24 and become the default way passengers pay for the Bee Network.

The journeys in question are those paid for using 'tap-and-go' technology, which allows passengers to hop seamlessly between buses and trams and only pay one fare. 

When it launched, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) bosses hoped the 'integrated ticketing' system would take off. It seems their dreams are coming true.

TfGM has announced more than one million customers took ten million tap-and-go journeys in 115 days, with the milestone fare being paid on a 143 bus at Saint Mary's Hospital on Oxford Road on July 17.

The organisation behind the Bee Network said more than half (57pc) of all adult bus trips are paid for using tap-and-go, with the most popular day coming on April 29 when 109,862 touch-ins were made as damage to overhead wires shut down trams, so usual Metrolink passengers travelled by bus.

(Image - Nub News)

Mayor Andy Burnham said the milestone is 'fantastic' for the city: "When we launched tap-and-go, I called on people to get on board with the Bee Network and give it a go, and they certainly have, with a fantastic ten million tap-and-go journeys already made by more than one million different passengers.

"We want public transport to be everyone's first choice for getting around Greater Manchester and to make that happen, we need to make it as easy as possible, and that's what tap and go is about.

"This is a huge part of us creating the world-class public transport network Greater Manchester deserves, bringing us in line with other global cities and to anyone that hasn't had a go and tapped on yet, I'd simply say 'why not give it a try, get on board with us and back the Bee Network'.'"

The technology works by charging passengers up to a daily or weekly fare cap, but 'hopper fare' single tickets also allow bus users to take as many bus trips as they wish within an hour for £2, and they will not pay more than £5 for a full day or £20 for a week's bus travel.

A similar 'touch-in, touch-out' model was first installed on Metrolink trams in 2019, but rolling the tech out to buses in Greater Manchester required taking services under public control and rebranding them under the Bee Network umbrella.

(Image - TfGM)

Tram fares have remained the same since 2020, and Metrolink ticket options have not changed with the advent of tap-and-go.

However, new combined tram and bus fares have been introduced, with prices typically rising the further one travels or if both bus and trams are used.

It looks like more modes of transport are set to join the tap-and-go revolution, with plans set to be announced later this year to include short-term, for-hire Bee Bikes. Bee Network Rail is set to start operation next year, and TfGM says 'by 2030, people will be able to travel seamlessly by bus, train, tram and bike in Greater Manchester under a single simple fare structure'.

Combined bus and tram tap-and-go fare fares:

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