Annual Metrolink fare review

Metrolink

Metrolink fares will increase in January to meet operating costs and support stop improvements, new trams and expanding the network.

Members of the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee, which oversees Metrolink, have considered the network’s annual ticketing review in light of the introduction of smartcards on to the network during 2014.

Introducing smart ticketing technology requires a move to a simpler, fairer, more affordable and more transparent fare structure – something that passengers have also called for in customer feedback.

Ticket income is used to run and improve the Metrolink network and to pay towards the £1.4 billion expansion that will make it the largest system of its kind in the country.

The new Metrolink line to Oldham Mumps opened to passengers earlier this year and good progress is being made on the lines to Droylsden and Rochdale Rail station.

The expansion is also creating new lines to Oldham and Rochdale town centres, Ashton-under-Lyne, East Didsbury and Manchester Airport via Wythenshawe, and the Second City Crossing.

The expanded network will be served by a fleet of 94 brand new trams, following the decision to replace and retire all 32 of the older, less reliable trams by 2014 – the same year that ‘touch in, touch out’ smartcards will be introduced on the network.

Introducing smartcards requires some phased annual adjustments to Metrolink’s zonal fare structure.

These changes will be made in line with TfGM’s medium term financial strategy, which is based on an assumption that Metrolink fares increase each year by an average of RPI+1 per cent, in order to meet operating costs and to deliver revenue to contribute to the capital investment programme.

As a result, Metrolink tickets will increase by an average of approximately four per cent from January 2013.

Child fares will be frozen (or will reduce) and 51% of individual fares will not change.

Councillor Andrew Fender, Chairman of the TfGM Committee, said: “I can assure passengers that all the money we raise from fares goes back into the network in some way, which means fares will only ever increase to meet the growing costs of running, improving or expanding the network.

“The Retail Price Index is the benchmark for the annual fare review because it indicates how much costs and prices have changed in the past year – so, for example, what cost £100 last year now costs £103 – and we have to address that difference.

“This year’s review achieves this, but it also takes a step towards achieving two important, intertwined objectives: a simpler and more consistent fare structure, and the introduction of smart ticketing.”

Smart ticketing will work best on the basis of simple ‘band to band’ fares, which are easier for passengers to understand. This, together with a more consistent ratio between single and return fare prices across all lines, is fundamental to the introduction of smart ticketing.