Child fares on TfGM funded school buses
From September 2022, fares on TfGM funded school buses are:
- Child Single ticket: £1.00
- Child Return ticket: £2.00
- TfGM school weekly ticket: £7.60**. This ticket is ONLY valid on schooldays on school buses. It’s available to buy on the bus or at a TfGM Travelshop. The bus driver will load it onto the igo card.
- Carnet ticket: (10 single trips) £10.00**. This ticket is ONLY valid on schooldays on school buses. It’s available to buy on the bus** and in TfGM Travelshops. It can only be loaded onto an igo card and will be valid for 28 days from the date of purchase.
Children aged 11-16 who do not have an igo pass will also be charged the single or return fare but will not be able to buy a weekly ticket without an igo.
Students with a Scholar’s permit can also buy the £1 single ticket or £2 return (but not the school weekly ticket).
Students without a Scholar’s Permit or Our Pass will be charged £2.00 Single or £4 Return.
** TfGM return, weekly and carnet tickets are valid on the majority of dedicated school buses, with some exceptions. There are also bus services to schools, not included on the list of TfGM school buses, where no TfGM school tickets are available. Please check the exceptions list before travelling.
Child fares on commercial buses
Children under 5 years old travel for free on buses in Greater Manchester.
If you are aged 5-11 you can pay child fares on buses in Greater Manchester.
From the age of 11 until 31 August after your 16th birthday, you can pay child fares if you have an igo card. You must have an igo pass to travel using a child ticket on buses in Greater Manchester if you are aged 11-16.
Child fares on trams
Children under 5 years old travel for free on trams in Greater Manchester.
If you are aged 5-11 you can pay child fares on trams in Greater Manchester.
If you are aged 11-15 you can pay child fares on trams in Greater Manchester if you have proof of your age when you travel.
An igo card can be used as proof of your age and lets you pay child fares on trams in Greater Manchester until 31 August after your 16th birthday.
Metrolink also has a great special offer for school groups travelling around the tram network called ‘Kid for a Quid’. This offer means it’s only £1 return for each child and £2 for each accompanying teacher, from any stop on the network. For more information, click here

Our Pass
Free local bus travel and off-peak 1-day and weekend Metrolink travelcards at half adult prices, for 16-18 year olds.

Care Leavers travel offer
Free local bus travel for 18-21 year olds who are classed as a care leaver.
-
Find your best value ticket
“The transport connections are really good”
Find the best value Metrolink or bus ticket for you.
-
Sign up to the challenge
10 for 10 challenge
Start your year well with 10 minutes of walking, cycling or wheeling every day for 10 weeks.
-
Visit the planned improvement works page
Planned engineering works on Metrolink
There are planned improvement works on Metrolink across selected lines and stops in 2023. You can visit our dedicated webpage to find out how the works affect your journeys around Greater Manchester.
-
Visit the Business Portal
Discover the Business Portal
Supporting businesses, employees, clients and visitors travel sustainably and affordably.
-
Find out more about Local Link
Book a trip with Local Link
The reliable minibus service that takes you door to door from £1.
-
Take part in the consultation
Bus service permits consultation
Have your say on TfGM’s proposed permit application process.
-
Find your best value ticket
“The transport connections are really good”
Find the best value Metrolink or bus ticket for you.
-
Visit the planned improvement works page
Planned engineering works on Metrolink
There are planned improvement works on Metrolink across selected lines and stops in 2023. You can visit our dedicated webpage to find out how the works affect your journeys around Greater Manchester.
-
Find out more about Local Link
Book a trip with Local Link
The reliable minibus service that takes you door to door from £1.
-
Sign up to the challenge
10 for 10 challenge
Start your year well with 10 minutes of walking, cycling or wheeling every day for 10 weeks.
-
Visit the Business Portal
Discover the Business Portal
Supporting businesses, employees, clients and visitors travel sustainably and affordably.
-
Take part in the consultation
Bus service permits consultation
Have your say on TfGM’s proposed permit application process.