"Deregulation Dilemmas" Metro/Buses Tip by Gillybob

Like most UK cities, Manchester's bus services are provided by many different bus companies. Each company has its own fare charging system with daily, weekly and monthly tickets, some of which can only be used on that specific bus company's routes or selected routes provided by that specific bus company.

Locally based companies who have a tendency to charge cheaper fares include R Bullocks and Finglands but run on a limited number of routes (mainly serving southern suburbs).

National companies include First Buses and Stagecoach who tend to have slightly higher prices but run on numerous routes.

Each bus company will have its own daily or weekly ticket which will allow unlimited travel on that company's services (some provided scaled-down tickets which run on popular service areas like Wilmslow Road).

If you want to travel throughout the Greater Manchester area using buses from most of the bus companies, then a System 1 ticket is probably going to be your best option. The daily ticket costs GBP4.00 off peak or GBP4.50 peak (off peak is weekdays after 09:30 and weekends). The weekly ticket (which requires accompaniment of a photo ID card available free of charge from GMPTE Travel Shops) costs GBP17.00 - hence, if you're going to be travelling extensively for more than 3 days, a System 1 Weekly Bus ticket may be your best purchase. The System 1 day saver ticket for all buses can be purchased from the driver of any bus within the scheme.

Please note that System 1 travel tickets lasting more than one day are not available for purchase at Manchester Airport.

Mode: AROUND
Phone: 0870 608 2 608
Type: Bus
Website: http://www.gmpte.com