free tram travel with train ticket manchester

Pensioners now have to pay to keep free tram and train travel across Manchester...it's been called a 'pre-Christmas blow'

Those with a concessionary bus pass will have to pay £10 to continue getting free tram and train travel

• 13:52, 20 DEC 2019

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From next year, people with concessionary bus passes across Greater Manchester will have to pay £10 to continue getting free tram and train travel.

From February 1 2020, people will need to pay the fee once a year to add other modes of transport to their pension-age or women's concessionary bus pass.

Currently, the passes allow free off-peak travel for buses across England and for trams and trains across Greater Manchester.

There will be no change to free, off-peak bus travel and, if you only use buses, you can choose not to pay to add tram and train.

But one resident slammed the plans and described the announcement as a "pre-Christmas blow for pensioners".

Ross Foss, who lives in Spinningfields, said TfGM's decision will further isolate elderly residents.

He said: "TfGM haven’t given much notice. The scheme starts on February 1, but seems to have been implemented without any consultation with either pass-users or age-friendly groups and organisations - not even Manchester council’s own Age-Friendly Board.

"This new charge seems to have been sneaked in just before the Christmas break, when news outlets are quiet, and will only add to the social isolation felt by older people, especially those with mobility issues, who are unable to get about a city where the public transport infrastructure is poor, especially in the city's badly served suburbs."

TfGM explained the scheme starts on February 1, but residents will be able to pay early from January 5 2020.

If you pay early, you will be covered for one year from February 1 2020. After February 1, you’ll be covered for a full year from the date you pay.

You can pay:

• in person at a TfGM Travelshop • in person at a PayPoint shop (available from January 25 2020) • online at getmethere.com

To buy online, you will need to link your concessionary pass to a Get Me There account; you can find more details and a step-by-step guide at getmethere.com/add-a-card.

Once you have paid online, you will need to touch-in with your concessionary pass at a Metrolink smart reader within 14 days, at any tram stop, and your pass will be updated to show you have paid to add tram and train.

If you need your pass for travelling by train, and won’t be able to visit a Metrolink stop first, travel bosses have suggested it's best you buy from a PayPoint or a TfGM Travelshop.

More information is available at tfgm.com/add-tram-and-train.

Get breaking news first on the free Manchester Evening News app - download it here for your Apple or Android device. You can also get a round-up of the biggest stories sent direct to your inbox every day with the MEN email newsletter - subscribe here . And you can follow us on Facebook here .

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Travelcards for bus, train and tram across Greater Manchester. Available for 1, 7 and 28 days with an annual option also available.

Just click ‘Find a Travelcard’ for more information.

Are trams free in Manchester if you have a train ticket?

Faqs about using trams in manchester:, 1. can i use my train ticket on the trams in manchester, 2. how much does a tram ticket cost in manchester, 3. can i use my contactless bank card on the trams, 4. are there any discounts available for tram tickets, 5. can i transfer between trains and trams in manchester, 6. are trams accessible for people with disabilities, 7. how frequent are the trams in manchester, 8. can i bring my bike onto the trams, 9. are there any park-and-ride facilities near tram stops, 10. can i use my tram ticket for multiple journeys, 11. are there any time restrictions for tram travel in manchester, 12. can i use my tram ticket on any tram line in manchester.

Travelling in Manchester can be an exciting experience, with its vibrant city life and efficient public transportation system. If you happen to have a train ticket, you may wonder if trams in Manchester are free to use. Unfortunately, the answer is no, trams are not free in Manchester even if you have a train ticket. Let’s delve into the details.

Manchester has an extensive tram network known as the Metrolink, operated by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM). The Metrolink covers various areas of the city and offers a convenient way to get around. However, it operates as a separate system from the train services, with its own fares and ticketing system.

To use the trams in Manchester, including the Metrolink, you need to purchase a separate ticket or use a contactless smartcard known as an ‘ITSO card’. These can be purchased at ticket machines located at tram stops or online. The cost of a tram ticket may vary depending on the distance of your journey, so it’s advisable to check the current fares beforehand.

No, train tickets are not valid for travel on trams in Manchester. Trams have their own fares and ticketing system.

The cost of a tram ticket in Manchester depends on the distance you travel. Prices vary, so it’s recommended to check the current fares before your journey.

Yes, you can use contactless bank cards to pay for your tram journey. Simply tap your card on the validators located on the tram platforms.

Yes, there are discounts available for tram tickets in Manchester. You may be eligible for concessions such as child fares, student discounts, or discounted travel passes. Check with TfGM for more information.

Yes, you can transfer between trains and trams in Manchester. However, you will need to purchase separate tickets or use appropriate travel passes for each mode of transport.

Yes, trams in Manchester are designed to be accessible for people with disabilities. They have low-level boarding, designated spaces for wheelchair users, and audio/visual announcements.

Trams in Manchester operate at regular intervals throughout the day. During peak hours, trams are more frequent, with shorter waiting times. However, outside of peak hours, the frequency may be reduced.

Yes, you can bring your bike onto the trams in Manchester, but there are restrictions. Bicycles are only allowed on trams outside of peak hours and must be kept in designated spaces. Some restrictions may apply during special events or busy periods.

Yes, there are park-and-ride facilities available near certain tram stops in Manchester. These facilities allow you to park your car and conveniently continue your journey using the tram network.

A tram ticket in Manchester is typically valid for a single journey only. If you need to make multiple journeys, it is advisable to consider purchasing a day pass or a travel card.

Tram services in Manchester operate within specific timeframes. The first trams usually operate around 6 am, and the last trams run until midnight. Check the timetable for specific operating hours.

Yes, your tram ticket is valid for travel on any tram line within the Metrolink network in Manchester. You can easily switch between different lines during your journey.

Overall, while trams in Manchester provide a convenient way to travel, it’s important to remember that they are not free, even if you have a train ticket. Plan your journey accordingly, purchase the necessary tram ticket, or use contactless payment methods to enjoy exploring the city on this efficient mode of transport.

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Co-op Live And TfGM Announce Free Travel On Metrolink For Arena Visitors In First Of Its Kind Initiative

The next step in Co-op Live’s considered approach to travel to and from the venue, this initiative fully complements the development of the ‘CityLink’ walking route.

If you’re as excited as we are for the immense new Co-op Live Arena to open in the near future, you’ll be happy to hear that there will be a very enticing public transport option to go with it. Co-op Live and Transport for Greater Manchester ( TfGM ) have announced a ground-breaking initiative which will see travel on Metrolink and new city centre shuttle buses included in all arena event tickets for free from 20 April to 30 June 2024 , during the brand new venue’s opening season.

As part of Co-op Live’s commitment to sustainable travel and funded by the venue, fans will be able to use the Metrolink from four hours before and up to four hours after (depending on the timing of each show) with a valid arena event ticket . The initiative will be active across all four Metrolink zones, allowing people to travel at a time most convenient to them.

The introduction of trams every six minutes , all day from Monday to Saturday, and later trams on a Friday and Saturday, promises increased capacity between the city centre and the Etihad Campus tram stop.

The next step in Co-op Live’s considered approach to travel to and from the venue, this initiative complements the development of the ‘CityLink’ walking route – a ‘significant’ upgrade to the existing link between Holt Town tram stop and the Etihad Campus.

A joint project between Co-op Live, Manchester City Football Club (MCFC), TfGM and Manchester City Council (MCC), it has been designed to create a vibrant pre-event experience with proposed features including interactive lighting installations and busking spots for performances by local musical talent.

Co-op Live and TfGM will also be introducing a city centre shuttle bus service, contributing to the free travel initiative. The number of shuttle buses available will vary by event profile, with a maximum of ten buses per show. Buses will depart from Joe Mercer Way at the Etihad Campus and arrive at Piccadilly Gardens .

Including tram and shuttle bus travel with all event tickets will help to ensure fans can make a quick and easy getaway at the end of the night, whether they’re heading back home or into the city centre to enjoy further attractions. To claim travel across the network, all fans must be in possession of a valid event ticket , which they will need to show on request.

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham , added: “Co-op Live is an exciting addition to Manchester’s already buzzing music and entertainment scene and this travel offer will mean people off to enjoy a night out watching the biggest acts in music, comedy and entertainment can do so knowing they will be able to get there and back without any hassle.

“As we build the Bee Network we want to make it easier for people to make all kinds of journeys and this pioneering partnership between TfGM and Co-op Live is showing that in action. This is a big step to ensuring everyone can enjoy the city’s unrivalled nightlife knowing safe, reliable and sustainable travel is all part of the package and I can’t wait to get down there myself when the new arena opens in April.”

Fans will be able to access relevant event travel information on the dedicated page on TfGM’s website.

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Free Metrolink tram travel within Manchester ‘Zone 1’

• Thread starter Feuillesmortes
• Start date 3 Jan 2022

Feuillesmortes

"If you've arrived in the city centre by train from any station in Greater Manchester, you could be entitled to free Metrolink tram travel within the network's ‘Zone 1’ (formerly known as the 'City Zone') (see map here). If your train ticket lists your destination as 'Manchester CTLZ' then you can travel within the 'City Zone' for free throughout the period of your ticket's validity (the same day if it's for a single journey)" Is this accurate? It's from wikivoyage.  

RailUK Forums

Mcr Warrior

Veteran member.

Essentially yes. Metrolink Zone 1 extends from Victoria towards Cornbrook and/or New Islington (on the Ashton line). Includes Piccadilly and Deansgate-Castlefield. Tickets have to be to Manchester CTLZ not Manchester Stns.  

Established Member

Mcr Warrior said: Essentially yes. Metrolink Zone 1 extends from Victoria towards Cornbrook and/or New Islington (on the Ashton line). Includes Piccadilly and Deansgate-Castlefield. Tickets have to be to Manchester CTLZ not Manchester Stns. Click to expand...

507020 said: Why is New Islington included in Zone 1 though? I’ve always found that strange Click to expand...

splashoutradio

If travelling into the city from a Greater Manchester station, the destination shown will be 'Manchester CTLZ', which stands for Manchester Central Zone. This includes the use of zone 1 Metrolink. In addition to this, there are a number of flows, where the route is shown as 'via Metrolink'. Arguably these are less important now we have the Orsdall Curve, but handy if a cross city connection is required.  

Thanks for this. Is there a useful splitting point within Greater Manchester that would let someone from travelling further afield avail of this? eg Birmingham splitting at Stockport or Edinburgh splitting at Wigan? Which begs the question what is Greater Manchester?  

Feuillesmortes said: Thanks for this. Is there a useful splitting point within Greater Manchester that would let someone from travelling further afield avail of this? eg Birmingham splitting at Stockport or Edinburgh splitting at Wigan? Click to expand...

Feuillesmortes said: Thanks for this. Is there a useful splitting point within Greater Manchester that would let someone from travelling further afield avail of this? eg Birmingham splitting at Stockport or Edinburgh splitting at Wigan? Which begs the question what is Greater Manchester? Click to expand...

Not to forget, regardless of your origin point there are free buses between the stations too if that's all you need.  

Thank you, I didn't realise Metrolink was so cheap. I don't have a journey in mind but like finding out about these quasi-loophole fares. Good to know about GM Metrolink 1/2/3/4 as well.  

Feuillesmortes said: Thank you, I didn't realise Metrolink was so cheap. Click to expand...

Mcr Warrior said: Single Metrolink fares have always appeared relatively expensive, but the multi-zone, multi-use, day travelcards, by contrast, do seem to be reasonably good value. Click to expand...

I’ve always struggled to actually add Metrolink stations on to a rail ticket using a TOC’s ticketing site  

stew said: I’ve always struggled to actually add Metrolink stations on to a rail ticket using a TOC’s ticketing site Click to expand...

Is it possible to get a ticket to Manchester Central Zones on-line? On Northern's app I just go for "all stations" and hope that's OK for zone 1.  

splashoutradio said: Unfortunately, national railway datasets don't hold details of scheduled services over the Metrolink network, and this causes issues for some journey planners. It is included in the RDGs connections data, and it used to be possible to use National Rail Enquiries to find and buy tickets to Metrolink stops, but this appears to have come to an end when ticketing went from individual tram stops (eg. Bury MTLK) to zonal ticketing (GM Metrolink Z1, etc.) It's possible to use sites such as BR Fares and Railway Data to find the price of these tickets, just not to buy them. Click to expand...

Howardh said: Is it possible to get a ticket to Manchester Central Zones on-line? On Northern's app I just go for "all stations" and hope that's OK for zone 1. Click to expand...

Am I right in thinking that tickets to Manchester CLTZ aren't railcard discountable, too?  

Crossover said: Am I right in thinking that tickets to Manchester CLTZ aren't railcard discountable, too? Click to expand...

507020 said: And tickets are only to Manchester CTLZ if they originate within Greater Manchester Click to expand...

py_megapixel

javelin said: Not to forget, regardless of your origin point there are free buses between the stations too if that's all you need. Click to expand...

miami said: Nope. Glazebrook (Cheshire/Warrington), Glossop, Dinting, Haadfield (Derbyshire/HighPeak), Appley Bridge (Lancashire) are to CTLZ. It's the GMPTE area ( https://tfgm.com/public-transport/train/ticket-area-map ) which gets CTLZ. I don't believe any others do. Glossop, Dinting, Haadfield are in the area presumblaably because it's the end of the line and the only rail heads from there into Manchester. Glazebrook is the closest station to many Cadishead residents despite being just over the border (and doesn't serve many non-GM residents), and Appley Bridge is the local station for Shevington Vale, just 100m over the border into Lancs Click to expand...

py_megapixel said: How much quicker is that than just walking? Click to expand...

py_megapixel said: How much quicker is that than just walking? The free bus routes IIRC don't really take a straight line; there's several windy bits where they go off to serve different areas, plus you could have to wait several minutes for the next one to turn up. Last year I made a thread asking what was the quickest way to connect across Manchester, as I wasn't really sure myself and needed to make a journey arriving at Picc and departing Vic. The consensus was that for me (able-bodied and with a fairly fast walking pace) the walk would be the best option. Click to expand...

Mcr Warrior said: Think it might just be flows where a Manchester Metrolink Zone (or Zones) is effectively an add-on to whatever the fare is to Manchester Stns, that can't be railcard discounted. Can anyone confirm? Click to expand...

Tickets with 'Manchester CTLZ' are discountable with a railcard, however tickets to Metrolink zones are not. As someone within Greater Manchester, who travels to Metrolink zone 4 on a semi-regular basis, I tend to buy a ticket to Manchester CTLZ with my railcard, then purchase a sperate Metrolink ticket to zone 4. For me, this works out cheaper, unless travelling in the morning peak.  

td97 said: If you have a Manchester CTLZ ticket and are connecting onto Metrolink from City Zone to Zone 2 (or beyond) then you only need a Zone 2 (or beyond) ticket as your rail ticket covers Zone 1. Click to expand...

Mcr Warrior said: Concur. That might be a tad awkward though if travelling from the City Centre to say Old Trafford in Zone 2 (for say the cricket or football) as you'd need to alight at Cornbrook on the Zone 1/2 boundary to buy an onward Zone 2 ticket (from the TVM there) as I don't think you can buy a Metrolink Zone 2 only ticket from within Zone 1. Must be an online workaround, presumably? Click to expand...

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Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is the official public transport body for the city. Its Bee Network website has a wealth of information and a number of journey planning tools to take the stress out of travelling. It includes:

• Bus services across Greater Manchester helping you get out and about.
• The Metrolink network, which is one of the most successful light railway systems in the UK. With frequent services there’s no need to worry about a timetable, just head to your nearest stop and the next tram won’t be far away. Metrolink can transport you to popular venues and attractions across the region and, if you’re planning on sightseeing, Travelcards offer unlimited travel across the network. Please be sure to purchase a ticket from the on-stop ticket machines before boarding or tap in and out at the contactless terminals.
• In addition to the inter-city links, the rail network connects you to the neighbouring towns and districts of Greater Manchester including Ashton-under-Lyne, Bolton, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport and Wigan.

Within the city centre,  free bus  (formerly Metroshuttle) provides a free ‘hop on, hop off’ service linking all of the main rail stations, shopping districts and business areas. There are  services which operate on circular routes.

Manchester is a bike-friendly city with many marked cycle lanes and dedicated routes throughout the city centre and beyond.

Visit the Transport for Greater Manchester  cycling website  for everything you need to know about cycling in Greater Manchester, from maps and route planning to local events and news. 

You can also hire bikes from various locations across the city.

Manchester is easily explored on foot, with a city centre that you can navigate within 30 minutes.  City Hosts  are dotted around the centre to guide you with directions, public transport information and details on events taking place.

Download  one of our maps  to help guide you around the region.

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Co-op Live and TfGM to offer FREE trams and buses to and from new arena for all event ticket holders

The groundbreaking initiative is the first of the its kind.

Co-op Live has partnered with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) to offer free tram and bus travel to and from the new area for all event ticket holders.

The groundbreaking initiative, which has been announced today , is the first of its kind in the UK.

Travel on the Metrolink and new city centre shuttle buses via the Bee Network will be included in all arena event tickets during the brand-new venue’s opening season from 20 April to 30 June 2024 as part of the just-announced initiative.

Under the new venue-funded initiative, fans will be able to use the Metrolink from four hours before, and up to four hours after (depending on the timing of each show ) shows with a valid arena event ticket.

Co-op Live and @beenetwork are very pleased to announce a ground-breaking, first of its kind initiative which will see travel on trams and new city centre shuttle buses included in all arena event tickets from 20 April to 30 June 2024 🎟️🚊 Find out more👇 https://t.co/nZlSwOPeQK pic.twitter.com/Eh9zQqAHgB — Co-op Live (@TheCoopLive) March 14, 2024

This will apply all four zones of the Metrolink, which should therefore allow people to travel at a time that’s most convenient to them – especially following the recent introduction of trams every six minutes all-day from Monday to Saturday, and later trams on a Friday and Saturday, too.

On top of this, Co-op Live and TfGM will also be introducing a city centre shuttle bus service.

The number of shuttle buses available will vary by event profile, according to Co-op Live, with a maximum of 10 buses per show deparing from Joe Mercer Way at the Etihad Campus and arriving at Piccadilly Gardens . 

Bosses at the Bee Network and the state-of-the-art new venue – which is set to not only be the biggest in the UK, but in Europe – say including tram and shuttle bus travel with all event tickets will help to ensure fans can make a “quick and easy getaway at the end of the night”, no matter whether they’re heading back home or into Manchester city centre to enjoy further attractions.

“We are dedicated to ensuring easy and accessible transport links to and from Co-op Live,” commented Gary Roden, who is the Executive Director and General Manager of Co-op Live, as the new transport offer was announced.

“We are delighted to be working with TfGM to offer this inclusive service for our fans for opening season.

“Coupled with the planning application submitted for a new ‘CityLink’ walking route from the city centre to the Etihad Campus, we are further demonstrating our commitment to the environment by encouraging more sustainable transport choices, and providing additional neighbour-friendly options to support increased footfall across East Manchester.”

To claim travel across the network, all fans must be in possession of a valid event ticket – which they will need to show on request.

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Find out more via the dedicated page on TfGM’s website here . 

Featured Image – TfGM

Passengers travelling through Manchester Airport today have been hit with major disruption, with all flights cancelled from Terminal 1 and Terminal 2.

There are also delays affecting Terminal 3.

The disruption has been caused by a ‘significant power cut’ in the early hours of this morning, which has had a knock-on effect on systems.

Passengers who were meant to travel from T1 or T2 today are being advised not to go to the airport.

All flights from both terminals are being cancelled ‘until further notice’.

Those who have already checked in for their flights are expected to see be able to travel, but may face delays.

Chris Woodroofe, Manchester Airport’s managing director, has now issued a video addressing the delays.

#ManchesterAirport @manairport right now. Utter chaos at Terminal One. pic.twitter.com/L6o2Dwg26O — Chris Shaw (@The_ChrisShaw) June 23, 2024

He said: “First of all, my sincere personal apologies to every single passenger who’s been impacted by what’s gone on at Manchester Airport today.”

He went on to explain that a ‘big power spike’ this morning damaged ‘really key equipment’ such as baggage systems.

Chris continued: “So that’s meant that Terminal One and Terminal Two haven’t been able to depart aircraft today, and as a result, neither has arrivals, because there’s no space to park those aircraft on the airfield.”

“It’s a very difficult situation,” he said. “I couldn’t be more sorry.

ℹ️ 23.06.24 – 1:30pm A message from Manchester Airport's Managing Director, Chris Woodroofe. pic.twitter.com/JDCwaSNRm7 — Manchester Airport (@manairport) June 23, 2024

“The good news is we very much expect this to be recovered over the afternoon and evening so we’re back to normal operations tomorrow.”

The latest statement from Manchester Airport said: “Manchester Airport was affected by a significant power cut in the early hours of this morning.

“Power has been restored but the outage affected important systems, including the processing of boarding cards and baggage screening, which has caused significant delays, particularly in Terminals 1 and 2.

“All flights from Terminals 1 and 2 are being cancelled until further notice and passengers due to travel from those terminals are advised not to come to the airport and to stay in touch with their airlines.”

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Featured image: Unsplash

In the seven years since Troye Sivan’s sexual awakening on 2018’s semi-explicit ‘Bloom’, the Australian has emerged as a sex-positive powerhouse.

He’s been soundtracking queer nightclubs across the globe with the dancefloor-ready earworm ‘Rush’ – the lead single from his third studio album ‘Something To Give Each Other’, itself a further step into self-embrace and expressionism and one that has seen Troye embark on a global tour endlessly spilling out online videos of brilliantly sexy and sultry dance routines and on-stage playfulness.

His Manchester outing at the AO Arena is no different, oozing with sensual choreography that wouldn’t be out of place on the Magic Mike Live stage, yet set to make those with a more reserved outlook blush.

But that’s largely the point here, the third step in a chronological journey that carefully treads from the self-questioning of ‘Heaven’ on his 2015 debut ‘Blue Neighbourhoods’ through to his unapologetic onstage gyrating, a symbol of his self-acceptance.

Anybody uncomfortable in tonight’s crowd is undoubtedly at the wrong show, an open celebration of all-round gayness and its culture.

It’s inherent in everything he says, informing the crowd that he made a b-line direct to Manchester’s iconic Canal Street the night before, and tantalisingly hinting that he may do the same after the show, before immodestly suggesting that this may cause some type of stampede.

Perhaps it’s the reason why the show both starts and ends unusually early, and why at just 17 songs, it’s one of the shorter headline sets an arena is used to.

It’s also telling that Troye doesn’t go further back than ‘Bloom’, with the title track, the anthemic ‘My My My!’ and the Ariana Grande-featuring ‘Dance To This’ just about making the cut.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by troye sivan (@troyesivan)

The song choices are in-keeping with the mood of the evening, more mature and more adult than anything off his debut, or ‘Bloom’s retrospective numbers that failed to make the setlist.

Tonight is evidently an acknowledgement of lust, love and sex; a call to live in the moment and not to look back, and a hedonistic masterclass.

With that, each set piece is brilliantly positioned, the performance split into six acts each broken with Troye running off stage for an outfit change or for structures to be seamlessly assembled or disassembled.

Fan favourite ‘One Of Your Girls’ sees him don a lacey corset as he shares an intimate lap dance with one of his dancers, while the sultry ‘STUD’ glides like silk both in its vocal and on-stage performance.

But the biggest reaction is saved for the Charli XCX featuring (although sadly not on stage) ‘1999’, which rounds out the main set with a party befitting its lyrics, and gay anthem ‘Rush’ – complete with full dance routine and mesmerising light show to bring the decadent thrill ride to a close.

As Pride Month draws to a close, and with Salford’s Pink Picnic acting as the show’s pre-party for many, Troye Sivan delivers easily one of the biggest and most freeing celebrations of queerness Greater Manchester has to offer – via Perth, Australia, of course.

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Featured image: Stuart Winecoff

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Tram travel now included for event ticket holders

·       Travel on Metrolink included for Co-op Live ticket holders from 20 April to 30 June 2024, in first of its kind initiative.

·       Introduction of a shuttle bus service from the Etihad Campus.

·       A dedicated page on Transport for Greater Manchester website to make fan travel to the arena as easy as possible.

Co-op Live and Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) are today announcing a ground-breaking initiative which will see travel on Metrolink and new city centre shuttle buses included in all arena event tickets from 20 April to 30 June 2024, during the brand new venue’s opening season. 

As part of Co-op Live’s commitment to sustainable travel and funded by the venue, fans will be able to use Metrolink from four hours before and up to four hours after (depending on the timing of each show) with a valid arena event ticket. The initiative will be active across all four Metrolink zones, allowing people to travel at a time most convenient to them.

The introduction of trams every six minutes, all-day from Monday to Saturday, and later trams on a Friday and Saturday, promises increased capacity between the city centre and the Etihad Campus tram stop. By offering all-zone travel on Metrolink, fans travelling to the arena will be able to make the most of one of Greater Manchester’s many Park and Ride sites. 

The next step in Co-op Live’s considered approach to travel to and from the venue, this initiative fully complements the development of the ‘CityLink’ walking route - a 'significant' upgrade to the existing link between Holt Town tram stop and the Etihad Campus. A joint project between Co-op Live, Manchester City Football Club (MCFC), TfGM and Manchester City Council (MCC), it has been designed to create a vibrant pre-event experience with proposed features including interactive lighting installations and busking spots for performances by local musical talent.

Co-op Live and TfGM will also be introducing a city centre shuttle bus service. The number of shuttle buses available will vary by event profile, with a maximum of ten buses per show. Buses will depart from Joe Mercer Way at the Etihad Campus and arrive at Piccadilly Gardens. 

Including tram and shuttle bus travel with all event tickets will help to ensure fans can make a quick and easy getaway at the end of the night, whether they’re heading back home or into the city centre to enjoy further attractions. To claim travel across the network, all fans must be in possession of a valid event ticket, which they will need to show on request.

Fans will be able to access relevant event travel information on the dedicated page on TfGM’s website . 

Commenting on the offer, Gary Roden , Executive Director and General Manager, Co-op Live, said:

“ We are dedicated to ensuring easy and accessible transport links to and from Co-op Live and are delighted to be working with Transport for Greater Manchester to offer this inclusive service for our fans for opening season. 

“Coupled with the planning application submitted for a new ‘CityLink’ walking route from the city centre to the Etihad Campus, we are further demonstrating our commitment to the environment by encouraging more sustainable transport choices, and providing additional neighbour-friendly options to support increased footfall across East Manchester. ”

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham , said: “ Co-op Live is an exciting addition to Manchester’s already buzzing music and entertainment scene and this travel offer will mean people off to enjoy a night out watching the biggest acts in music, comedy and entertainment can do so knowing they will be able to get there and back without any hassle. 

“As we build the Bee Network we want to make it easier for people to make all kinds of journeys and this pioneering partnership between TfGM and Co-op Live is showing that in action.

“This is a big step to ensuring everyone can enjoy the city’s unrivalled nightlife knowing safe, reliable and sustainable travel is all part of the package and I can’t wait to get down there myself when the new arena opens in April. ”

Fran Wilkinson , Customer and Growth Director, TfGM, said: “ We are delighted to have partnered with Co-op Live to bring the people of Greater Manchester this groundbreaking travel offer ahead of the UK’s biggest arena opening its doors in our city centre.

“It’s vitally important that there are no barriers to people enjoying everything our city region has to offer and initiatives like this - together with our plans for a new walking route from the city centre to the Etihad Campus – demonstrate our commitment to a thriving night-time economy.

“This new offer will provide safe, reliable and sustainable transport to and from Co-op Live and I hope everyone gets on board as they head off to enjoy a show. ”

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