METROLINK fares are set to increase in January 2014.
But don’t start returning all of the Christmas gifts yet. It's only a small increase.
“At a time when local authorities are facing significant budget pressures, it is vital that Metrolink can cover its own operating costs without any burden on the public purse.
Members of the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee have agreed the annual Metrolink fares review, meaning fares will rise by RPIX +1% in January (RPIX being an evaluation of inflation).
Meaning that in January 2014 Metrolink fares will increase by an average of 4.2%. Details of specific 2014 fare increases will appear on the Metrolink website on Monday 9 December. Here’s a rough idea of what a 4.2% increase looks like:
Adult Peak Single from Piccadilly to Deansgate/Castlefield: £1.10 (new price £1.15).
Adult Off-Peak Return from City Zone to Burton Road: £3.80 (new price £3.95).
Adult Peak Return from Bury to Eccles: £6.70 (new price £7).
A statement from Transport for Greater Manchester reasons that the slight increases are to ‘meet operating costs and to contribute towards the £1.5 billion Greater Manchester Transport Fund’, a fund investing in extensions and improvements across the network.
In addition to the small fare increases and prompted by customer feedback, New Islington station shall now fall into the City Zone and quarterly season tickets and four-adult day Travelcards shall be withdrawn.
New Islington station
Councillor Andrew Fender, Chair of the TfGM Committee, said: “At a time when local authorities are facing significant budget pressures, it is vital that Metrolink can cover its own operating costs without any burden on the public purse.
“The Retail Price Index indicates how much operating costs have changed in the past year in real terms, and fares increase by that level to meet those costs. Put simply, what cost £100 last year now costs £103.20, and that needs to be accounted for.
“But Metrolink is, of course, in the midst of unprecedented investment, growth and exciting change. By 2016, the network will have trebled to 60 miles in size, with 94 trams serving 93 stops across a number of new lines.
“At the same time, we are in the final stages of replacing all 32 of the original trams with brand new vehicles as part of a near-£200 million fleet investment, and we’ve opened a second, state-of-the-art depot and operational HQ in Trafford.
“The Victoria, St Peter’s Square and Deansgate-Castlefield stops are also about to be transformed as part of the Second City Crossing. Metrolink fares continue to offer value for money, particularly for season ticket holders.”
TfGM's Second City Crossing (2CC) is a proposed new Metrolink route through the city centre. The route will run from the Deansgate/Castlefield stop, through St Peter’s Square, along Princess Street, Cross Street and Corporation Street, re-joining the existing Metrolink line just outside Victoria Station.
