School bus fares to increase

School bus

School bus fares are set to increase from Friday 1 September on all school services that are paid for by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM)

For children with IGO passes, the new single fare will be £1.30, the new return fare will be £2.20 and the new cost of the school weekly ticket will be £7.00.

The new flat fare will replace the existing system whereby children are charged one of three different fares depending on the distance they travel.

TfGM Head of Bus, Howard Hartley, said: “Our school bus services play an important part in TfGM being able to offer a fully inclusive transport system and although we accept that this will mean a slight increase in ticket prices for some children, the fares still represent good value for money, particularly the weekly ticket.

“We have kept school services fares as low as we possibly can for a long time, with the last increase dating back to 2011, some six years ago.

“This new structure should simplify and streamline what was previously a complex fare system, making it easier to understand for drivers and parents and avoiding any confusion over distances travelled.”

There are still a number of school buses where fares are set by the operator and which will therefore be unaffected by these changes.