TRAM passengers can now see how Metrolink fare changes will affect their journeys when they come into effect in January 2018

Transport for Greater Manchester published details of the new fares via an online ticket selector, making it easier for passengers to check out ticket prices.

The new fares include a rise of around 4% (split into 1.33% per year) – plus the annual RPI+1% over the course of the next three years.

This means that Metrolink fares will rise on average by 5.93%, however, the overall percentage increase will vary between individual tickets.

For example, an adult single ticket from Oldham Central to Victoria will rise by 20p, from £3.60 to £3.80 next year. An adult peak return ticket will rise from £5.40 to £5.80.

The increase follows a four year fare freeze in recognition of the work that was taking place to expand the network.

This summer TfGM ran an eight-week survey that asked customers for their preference on how the fare increase should be applied. Just over 5,000 people responded to the survey with 78% opting to spread the cost out over three years.

Stephen Rhodes, Customer Director for Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), said: “Since announcing that fares will increase in January our customers have been eager to see the new ticket prices and so today we’re introducing a ticket selector on our website to make that possible.

“We recognise that there’s never a good time to increase fares but we hope that our customers understand the reason why they now have to increase following the four year freeze.

“The money we get from fares goes back into the network to cover operating costs and the costs of borrowings taken to expand the system, which is now the largest in the country, with seven lines running to 93 stops across the city region.

“Metrolink receives no public financial subsidy and so having held fares for four years we now need to return them to the required level so that we can continue to operate on a financially sustainable basis into the future.”

The online ticket selector is available on the TfGM website at www.tfgm.com/fares.