Simpler fares across Greater Manchester
From Sunday 7 December 2025, rail fares across Greater Manchester were simplified to make train travel easier, fairer and more flexible.
Passengers travelling between 2 railway stations in Greater Manchester and buying tickets on the day now have just 2 simple options:
- Anytime – Single or Return
- Off-Peak – Single or Return
What do I need to know?
- The tickets are valid across all train operators serving Greater Manchester
- It’s simpler and fairer, removing confusing operator-specific fares
- All 96 stations in Greater Manchester are included
- They are available online, at ticket vending machines and in ticket offices
- Singles and Returns are available for both ticket types, and Singles are half the cost of a Return
- Advance tickets purchased before the day of travel and Season Tickets remain available.
- Advance Purchase tickets will no longer be available to buy on the day of travel
- Railcard discounts, Duo, and Ranger and Rover products are unchanged
Find your route
Bringing you simpler fares means we get closer to integrating rail with the wider Bee Network in Greater Manchester, which you’ll begin to see later on in 2026.
Greater Manchester Combined Train and Tram Tickets
You can purchase a combined ticket that includes your Northern train journey and onward travel by tram on the Bee Network – or Metrolink as you may know it as. Take the train from any Greater Manchester station, then hop on a tram to explore the city and surrounding areas. You can plan your journey on the map below.
What do I need to know?
- When you arrive at one of the main Manchester train stations - Manchester Victoria, Piccadilly or Deansgate - you can easily transfer to the tram by following the yellow signs around the station.
- Your combined ticket includes a Northern train journey and Metrolink tram travel within your chosen Greater Manchester zones.
- If you're a school or college student (16-19); 60+, or you have a National Concessionary Travel Pass due to Disability there may be better tickets for you. Check out the Transport for Greater Manchester Website to check the best ticket for you.
Buying a combined train and tram ticket
- At the station ticket office in Greater Manchester: You can buy a ticket from a Greater Manchester train station ticket office. Ask for a Manchester Metrolink add-on ticket.
- At the tram stop: You can also buy tickets from a tram stop ticket machine and clicking on 'Combined Travel - Tram Bus Train and Railzone'.
- On the Northern App: You can purchase a combined train and tram ticket on the Northern app. Enter your origin as a train station within Greater Manchester and your destination as 'Manchester Central Zone'. You will need to collect your train and tram tickets from a ticket machine or ticket office at your origin station.
Where can I go?
When choosing your Metrolink add-on ticket, think about whether you want to stay in central zones around the city centre, or whether you'd like to go further afield and explore Greater Manchester.
From: Trafford, Salford and surrounding areas
To: Central Manchester, Trafford, Salford and surrounding areas (Zone 1+2)
This ticket is ideal for those wanting to explore the main city centre for culture and shopping, football fans looking to visit Old Trafford or the Etihad Campus, or those who want to take in Salford Quays.
Adult Fares
- Single: £4.80
- Peak Return: £6.80
- Off-Peak Return: £5.40
- 7-Day Add-On: £22.80
Child Fares
- Single: £2.40
- Peak Return: £3.40
- Off-Peak Return: £2.70
- 7-Day Add-On: £11.40
At the ticket office, ask for a Manchester Metro ticket for Zones 1 and 2.
Start your journey from any of these stations: Ardwick , Ashburys , Belle Vue , Burnage , Eccles , Fairfield , Gorton , Heaton Chapel , Humphrey Park , Levenshulme , Mauldeth Road , Moston , Reddish North , Ryder Brow , Salford Central , Salford Crescent , Trafford Park.
For travel through Zones 1 and 2 of the Metrolink network. A map of Zones 1 and 2 can be viewed here.
From: Trafford, Salford and surrounding areas
To: Central Manchester, Trafford, Salford, Tameside and surrounding areas (Zone 1+2+3)
This ticket will take you to all the locations in Zones 1 and 2, plus the Trafford Centre for those who love to shop, East Didsbury, Heaton Park and Ashton-under-Lyne.
Adult Fares
- Single: £5.40
- Peak Return: £7.80
- Off-Peak Return: £6.80
- 7-Day Add-On: £27.20
Child Fares
- Single: £2.70
- Peak Return: £3.90
- Off-Peak Return: £3.40
- 7-Day Add-On: £13.60
At the ticket office, ask for a Manchester Metro ticket for Zone 1 to 3.
Start your journey from any of these stations: Ardwick , Ashburys , Belle Vue , Burnage , Eccles , Fairfield , Gorton , Heaton Chapel , Humphrey Park , Levenshulme , Mauldeth Road , Moston , Reddish North , Ryder Brow , Salford Central , Salford Crescent , Trafford Park.
For travel through Zones 1, 2 and 3 of the Metrolink network. A map of Zones 1, 2 and 3 can be viewed here.
From: Trafford, Salford and surrounding areas
To: Central Manchester, Trafford, Salford, Tameside and surrounding areas (Zone 1+2+3)
This ticket will take you to all the locations in Zones 1, 2 and 3, plus Rochdale, Bury, Altrincham and Manchester Airport - ideal for anyone who is heading for a flight.
Adult Fares
- Single: £6.60
- Peak Return: £8.80
- Off-Peak Return: 7.40
- 7-Day Add-On: £32.60
Child Fares
- Single: £3.30
- Peak Return: £4.40
- Off-Peak Return: £370
- 7-Day Add-On: 16.30
At the ticket office, ask for a Manchester Metro ticket for Zones 1 to 4.
Start your journey from any of these stations: Ardwick , Ashburys , Belle Vue , Burnage , Eccles , Fairfield , Gorton , Heaton Chapel , Humphrey Park , Levenshulme , Mauldeth Road , Moston , Reddish North , Ryder Brow , Salford Central , Salford Crescent , Trafford Park.
For travel through Zones 1 to 4 of the Metrolink network. A map of Zones 1 to 4 can be viewed here.
The information on this page was correct at the time of writing, but it's always best to check the Transport for Greater Manchester website ahead of travel, in case of any changes or disruptions.
Greater Manchester's Bee Network
The Bee Network brings together all public transport modes across Greater Manchester into one easy, flexible system.
The network has already brought bus and tram travel under local control, bringing huge benefits such as contactless tap and go payment.And this is coming soon to rail too.
What's happening on the Bee Network in 2026?
The first train lines to join the Bee Network will be Ashton-under-Lyne and Stalybridge to Manchester; and Glossop, Hadfield and Rose Hill Marple via Guide Bridge to Manchester. This will mean:
- Contactless ‘tap in, tap out’ ticketing on trains will be rolled out across 17 stations along these lines initially, making it easier than ever to pay. This will ultimately offer an integrated, capped payment system across bus, tram, train and cycle.
- The first Bee Network branded stations on these lines will be integrated with Bee Network standards, with better access and information.
- Manchester Piccadilly and Stalybridge stations will be the first fully integrated flagship Bee Network stations.
More lines will be improved to similar standards right across Greater Manchester. Find out more about the Bee Network here
Northern App
Streamline your journey and get tickets straight to your phone. Making your journey contact-free.
Northern App
Streamline your journey and get tickets straight to your phone. Making your journey contact-free.