Salford rail passengers are set to benefit from reduced fares and simplified tickets, starting this Sunday (7 December).
Everyone who buys a ticket on the day they are travelling between two railway stations in Greater Manchester will be offered only Anytime and Off-Peak options.
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.
Overall, the change will mean the average fare in Greater Manchester will fall by 5.6%, the Bee Network says.
They will be available to buy from the 96 stations in Greater Manchester and online, including at the Salford Crescent, Salford Central, Eccles, Irlam, Walkden and Swinton stations.
Other types of tickets will still be offered to those who book in advance.
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “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.”
The fare simplification is part of the Government’s UK-wide transformation, which they say will make it easier to understand and journeys more seamless, in turn bringing more people back to rail.
More than half of train journeys (52%) 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.
Lydia Brogan, a student waiting for a train at Salford Central, said: “It’s definitely helpful to save money, especially for students, because everything’s just so expensive, especially in Manchester.
“A lot of people like me commute because it’s just so expensive to live in Manchester anyway, so it’s definitely helpful.
“I think under regulation it sounds like a good start, to be fair.”
The reform comes after a “landmark” legislation made earlier this month (5 November 2025), to establish Great British Railways (GBR).
The government said the Railways Bill will empower GBR to “bring fares and ticketing into the 21st century, making travel more flexible and simpler.”
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.”
Danny Brogan, a passenger at Salford Central, said: “I think the plans we’ve got for future transport, with a potential underground and extension to the Metrolink and all that sort of stuff sounds quite interesting.”
More information is available on the Bee Network website.
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