Greater Mancheser mayor Andy Burnham has brought forward plans to reduce bus fares in the region.

Mr Burnham has announced his intention to accelerate the introduction of reduced bus fares to help people with the cost-of-living crisis.

From September 1 this year, he intends to cap single journey fares at £1 for children, £2 for adults and for daily tickets to cost £5, which will allow unlimited travel across all operators.

The new fare structure is subject to agreement with government and bus operators, but if plans go ahead it will come in a year earlier than originally planned, also applying across all of Greater Manchester from day one rather than a gradual roll out.

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: “In March, I announced our plans for £2 capped single fares for adults and £1 for children, to be introduced from autumn 2023 as we began to franchise our bus network.

“Given the immense financial pressure the cost-of-living pressures are putting on the people of our city-region, I am announcing my intention to introduce these fares on September 1 this year, subject to agreement with government and bus operators.

“Alongside these affordable single fares, we will also introduce a £5 daily ticket which will offer unlimited travel on all bus operators within Greater Manchester.”

He added: “My message to the people of our city-region is simple - Greater Manchester needs you.

"Use public transport and make the most of these affordable fares.

“Only you can make this sustainable. To make affordable fare caps permanent, we need people to take the bus. We’re on an exciting journey and we need the whole of the city region to get behind it.  

“Franchising our buses, bringing them back under public control, and lowering fares are a key part of creating the Bee Network– the London-style transport system - that our region needs and deserves. However, we now need more people to support our public transport system by using it.”

Chief executive of OneBus, the Greater Manchester Bus Operator’s Association, Gary Nolan, said: “Local bus companies are keen to play their part in encouraging more people to use buses as an easy, environmentally friendly way of getting around the region.

“This financial support to cap bus fares across the region will help do this and will benefit the bus network and passengers in the long run. We’re pleased to support it.” 

These plans come as part of the wider ranging Bee Network scheme, which aims to implement a London-style conurbation-wide transport system.