Colleges (16+)

Planning your journey to and from college

As the new academic year gets going, this guide seeks to help you learn more about your travel options to and from college and where you can get more information to support your journey.

For the latest travel information and advice visit tfgm.com and follow @BeeNetwork on X (formally Twitter) for live updates. For bus/rail follow the relevant operator and you can call our contact centre on 0161 244 1000 between 7am and 8pm on weekdays and from 8am to 7pm at weekends.

Check before you travel

For real-time information to help manage your journey, go to TfGM’s journey planner.

• For bus departure times, routes and operators visit the the TfGM bus pages
• For up-to-date information about tram departure times, service frequency and disruption visit the TfGM tram pages
• For information about train times, routes, tickets and railcards visit the National Rail website

Free and discounted travel

You may be entitled to free bus travel with Our Pass. After you pay the £10 admin fee (which pays for the cost of making the card), you can use your pass on most local bus services, including the new Bee Network buses, in Greater Manchester.

You can also get half-price off-peak 1 day and weekend travelcards on Metrolink, as well as access to exclusive offers and experiences. If you live in Greater Manchester and were born between 1 September 2005 and 31 August 2007, you are eligible to apply this year. Find out more and apply by visiting Our Pass website.

Or you may be interested in a Scholar’s Permit, which allows 16 to 19-year-olds in school or college to pay the equivalent of child fares on trams, buses and trains in Greater Manchester. Find out more at TfGM's ticket and passes page.

Not eligible? #GetOnBoard with other tickets and passes

Simple and clear low bus fares are available in Greater Manchester, making it easier for people to get around the city-region.

Adults (over 16) pay no more than £2 for a single bus journey, while a £5 1-day AnyBus Adult travelcard covers unlimited bus travel within the 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester until 03.59am the following day.

However you choose to travel, TfGM’s Ticket Finder can help you find your best option.

Say Yellow to the Bee Network

The first Bee Network buses will start operating in parts of Greater Manchester from 24 September 2023. There’s nothing you need to do differently for now, but you might start to see our yellow Bee Network buses on routes in Bolton, Wigan and parts of Salford, Bury and Manchester.

Buses in all other areas will remain the same, run by private operators. They will join the Bee Network in two phases through to January 2025.

Through the Bee Network, TfGM will have greater local control of bus services, which will:

• make it easier than ever to get around by bus, tram, train, bike - all linked up with the UK’s biggest cycling and walking network
• make travel easy to use, reliable and sustainable travel for everyone
• make fares lower and simple, including flexible tickets
• make us answer to you, the passenger: with a clear set of customer commitments explaining what you can expect from us and what to do if your experience falls short

The new Bee Network app will be available to download from 18 September via the Google Play Store and the Apple App store.

You will be able to: 

• Get live departure times for nearby bus, tram and train stops and stations.
• Buy Metrolink tickets.  
• Buy Bee Any Bus and Bee AnyBus + Tram tickets from 24 September 2023. 
• Access the new Rate Your Journey survey.

From 24 September 2023, you’ll also be able to use the app to buy a range of Bee AnyBus tickets, including new Bee AnyBus + Tram tickets.

In time we will roll out additional features including journey planning and disruption information, making the Bee Network app the one-stop shop for public transport in Greater Manchester.

Walk, wheel or bike it

Walking, cycling and wheeling are great options for a cleaner, greener journey – particularly for shorter trips.

There is lots of information and support available, including details of safe cycle routes near you, on our active travel website.

You can also book your place on a range of courses to help you improve your bike riding and maintenance skills.

Travelling safely

We’re working hard to make transport in Greater Manchester safe for everyone.

The GM TravelSafe Partnership are committed to tackling anti-social behaviour, abuse and harassment across the network.

We care if you’ve been affected by these issues, please report it and help us tackle the issue. This can be done using the LiveChat service.

People involved in this behaviour face serious consequences, including pass removal, fines and even prosecution.

Help along the way

There are lots of tools and tips to help you travel safely across Greater Manchester, including travel support aids. Visit our Accessibility Hub for more information.