Manchester is set to join the ranks of major cities like London, New York, and Madrid with the introduction of contactless payment fares for buses starting Sunday. The Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham, believes this move will mark the realization of the city’s goal to establish a fully integrated transportation network. Travelers will be able to easily switch between buses and trams without needing to purchase separate tickets and the cost will be automatically calculated and capped. The Bees Network, the rebranded bus and tram system, promises a quicker, easier, and cheaper travel option, especially for journeys that require a transfer from buses to trams. Contactless payments have been accessible on Metrolink trams since 2019, with over 50 million contactless journeys already made, and users in Greater Manchester are ahead of the rest of the country in tapping in via phones or watches. The introduction of contactless payment is the culmination of years of hard work to make travel simple, convenient, and affordable.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/mar/22/manchester-bee-network-tap-in-travel-buses-trams