Metrolink prepares for first fare changes in two years

Metrolink bosses are ready for any last-minute rush to buy season tickets if commuters race to beat the January fare increase.

Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority (GMITA) agreed in October that a fare rise was necessary for Metrolink, the first in two years, to meet increasing costs and contribute towards the improvements to and expansion of the network.

And for the first time, passengers who are Travel Club members can renew their season passes using the new platform ticket machines installed as part of the recent upgrade.

Councillor Ian Macdonald, Chairman of GMITA, said: "I understand that, for passengers, there is no ideal time to increase fares but I can assure them that any change is always the least it can be to meet the growing costs of running, improving and expanding the network.

"In the case of child fares, the increase is the lowest amount practicable. We have frozen all fares for two years while we made major improvements for passengers, such as the city centre track renewals, the introduction of new trams, the Altrincham line refurbishments and new ticket machines at every stop.

"For regular passengers it's easier than ever now to buy an annual ticket - and if people choose to do that before January it will effectively allow them to travel for the whole of 2011 at 2008 prices, the last time season ticket prices changed."

The new ticket machines allow passengers to pay with credit and debit cards, making them more convenient for passengers.

In the past, season ticket renewals could only be made at GMPTE Travelshops or at PayPoint outlets, but now Travel Club members can buy or renew them using the new ticket machines.

An annual season ticket for Altrincham to Piccadilly will cost £930 from 4 January and allows unlimited travel on that route. That is equivalent to three months' free travel, including weekends, compared to buying a return ticket every weekday for the same journey.

GMITA reviews fares each year. January's change is consistent with inflation over the two years since ticket prices last changed.

Rises for child daily fares - the first in three years - will, in the majority of cases, be 10p, the lowest practicable increase possible. In the majority of cases, adult peak return fares will increase by 20p.

The cost of season tickets (four-weekly, quarterly and annual) for adults and children has been frozen for three years and from January 2011 they will increase by between 4.8% and 7.3%, depending on ticket type and journey.